New Jersey Devils

Potential Stars Cap Casualty Emerges as Perfect Devils Trade Target; Must Go All In

Tom Fitzgerald must go all in via Devils trade for Jason Robertson if the Stars want to move him.

Published

2 weeks ago

June 4, 2025

Dallas Stars left wing Jason Robertson (21) gets set on the ice during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Winnipeg Jets in Dallas, Friday, Nov. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Now this, this is the type of player you sit up in your seat for. With rumors swirling that the Dallas Stars could part ways with Jason Robertson as a cap casualty, suddenly there’s a perfect target in a potential New Jersey Devils trade.

Make no mistake, every team not named Dallas will feel this way. However, Robertson is exactly the kind of scorer the Devils need.

The whispers began on Tuesday, spearheaded by NHL insider and DailyFaceoff host, Jeff Marek via The Sheet.

Marek explained that the Stars could make Robertson available via trade. They want to create cap space and recoup draft capitol.

Going into the final year of his contract at a $7.75 million value, Marek believes the Stars could use the space to go big game hunting in the free agency market. But, perhaps at a different position.

The truth of the matter is that after the Stars acquired Mikko Rantanen (and then paid him $12 million annually for the next eight years), Robertson’s role changed. Now that the Stars are eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs after reaching the Western Conference Final again, Dallas could be headed for an identity change.

Marek explained in his blog on Tuesday that the Stars covet a right-shot defenseman.

Enter the Devils, who have a plethora of defenders they could deal for a player like Robertson in a Devils trade.

General manager Tom Fitzgerald has a few options at his disposal that could be of interest to Stars GM, Jim Nill.

It’s been well documented that the Devils’ right-side has a bit of a log jam. It’s loaded with all of Dougie Hamilton, Brett Pesce, Johnathan Kovacevic, and top young talents in Simon Nemec and Seamus Casey. The Devils have some parts to spare.

What they don’t have is a top-tier, left-shot goalscorer to play alongside Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt.

Robertson is the perfect fit for many reasons.

For starters, his low cap hit next season is certainly desirable. He’s going to need a new contract next summer. However, the Stars forward is entering the prime years of his career going into his age-26 season. He already has two 40-plus goal seasons under his belt, and scored 35 goals and 80 points last season.

At 6-foot-3, 207-lbs, Robertson is no pushover. His size and speed help him create separation for himself, win his puck battles, play-make, and score goals in a plethora of different ways.

We’re not talking about your average top-six scorer. Robertson is a star.

In terms of how the Devils can acquire Robertson, nothing—as far as defensemen—should be off the table.

Without question, Fitzgerald should offer Casey in a deal for the Stars scorer. However, it’s likely going to take a lot more than that.

In fact, this is one of those deals where you don’t hesitate to start the conversation with Nemec. Perhaps build a deal from there, but still, it will take more.

It shouldn’t even be out of the question, however, for the Devils to entertain the idea of moving Hamilton to Dallas. If they really covet a right-shot defenseman, Hamilton could be their answer.

Say Robertson were to become a Devil, any concern about an extension shouldn’t be too overwhelming.

New Jersey is projected to have $31,325,000 in cap space on July 1st, 2026. Nemec (if he’s not involved in this deal), Paul Cotter, and a goaltender would be the significant needs next summer. Therefore, cap space shouldn’t be an issue for the forward, who AFP Analytics projects to earn $11.5 million per year for eight seasons starting next summer.

The Devils might not have their first round draft pick in the upcoming draft. But, that might be okay in what’s considered a weaker pool of players.

The Devils should consider all options on Robertson, including the idea of potential moving Hamilton or Nemec.

Robertson is the kind of difference-making scorer who will knock everyone down a peg on the depth chart. Ultimately, that should also help the Devils’ depth scoring issues.

If Robertson is actually going to be available, the Devils should go all in to acquire him, and they shouldn’t hesitate.

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