Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill said he intends to resume Jason Robertson contract extension talks around Dec. 1, giving the forward’s camp roughly six weeks before formal negotiations begin again.
“I’m going to wait until probably around the first of December. I don’t want any distraction. Just get off to a good start and I’ll sit down with his representatives around the first of December, see if we can get something done,” Nill said, according to NHL.com.
Main Development: Nill’s December Timeline
Nill’s comments mark the first public indication of when the Stars plan to revisit a long-term deal for Robertson. The 27-year-old winger signed a one-year, $12 million contract on July 21 after avoiding salary arbitration as a restricted free agent. That bridge deal keeps him under contract through this season while setting up a bigger decision for Dallas.
Under NHL rules, Robertson becomes eligible to sign a long-term extension starting Jan. 1, 2027, which lines up closely with the timeline Nill described for sitting down with Robertson’s representatives.
What It Means For The Stars
Nill’s stated reasoning centers on avoiding a distraction for his team early in the season. Waiting until December allows Dallas to establish its on-ice form before negotiations potentially become a storyline around the roster. The approach also gives both sides more roster and cap information to work with closer to the Jan. 1 eligibility date, rather than negotiating against a deadline during training camp.
Robertson’s Production And Context
Robertson put up 96 points last season, including 45 goals and 51 assists across 82 games, numbers that underscore why Dallas values locking him into a long-term agreement. His one-year bridge contract followed a restricted free agency process in which he and the Stars avoided going to arbitration.
The move to sign a short-term deal rather than a long-term extension this past summer set up the current situation, with both sides now waiting for the new year’s eligibility window before formal long-term talks can proceed.
What’s Next
Nill said he plans to meet with Robertson’s representatives around Dec. 1. Any long-term agreement cannot be finalized until Jan. 1, 2027, under league rules, meaning the coming weeks of early-season play will unfold without a resolution to Robertson’s contract situation. The Stars have also been active elsewhere on their roster, recently signing forward David Perron to a one-year deal as they look to build out their lineup this season.
Dallas enters this stretch amid broader questions about its roster sustainability, a topic Total Apex Sports has examined in looking at whether the Stars’ championship window is closing.
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