The Detroit Red Wings are in a position to make a big trade.
With the NHL Draft and free agency looming, it's almost time to go into full-blown silly season. With that said, we got a little creative here with the idea of long-term growth in mind, so we came up with a trade proposal where we would have to give up relatively little for a rising star.
Jason Robertson
Let's talk about Jason Robertson and the Dallas Stars. The Stars are in a bit of a cap crunch scenario. After signing Mikko Rantanen to an eight-year, $96 million contract extension, some cuts have to be made. Robertson's AAV is currently at $7.75 million, and Dallas has just under $5 million in cap space going into next season.
It doesn't appear that there's room for Robertson. Should Dallas choose to retain captain Jamie Benn, who's been with the Stars for his entire career, and Matt Duchene, who led Dallas with 82 points scored during the regular season, there'll be even less room for Robertson, who had a 109-point season during the 2022-23 campaign.
Our offer: Detroit gets Robertson; the Stars get the No. 13 pick in the 2025 draft, a 2026 second-round pick, RW Vladimir Tarasenko, and LW Elmer Söderblom.
How To Sell It?
First and foremost, you can't afford Robertson, so we're doing you a favor. Furthermore, a couple of solid draft pick selections will get your team on a head start toward your eventual rebuild. It's going to happen.
Moreover, Dallas is an organization that respects veterans. Tarasenko has two Stanley Cup championships on his résumé. We thought his experience would be a great addition to our system, and it just wasn't the case.
He seems to be a player that's motivated by knowing there's essentially a guaranteed berth in the playoffs. We couldn't make him happy, but you guys will. In order to put a little extra sweetener on the deal, we're also willing to eat about 45% of Tarasenko's contract. However, we are flexible. A deal can be made.
As for Söderblom, you're getting a solid player at a cheap price who has a lot of potential. He has a rare mix of size and playmaking ability around the net. Once he gets a full season under his belt, we'll have an idea of how he's going to end up. Take it while the offer is hot!
If Detroit can land Robertson and improve their depth on the blue line, this team will be in good shape entering the 2025-26 season.
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