Eastern Conference Team Almost Landed Jason Robertson Per Insider

The Jason Robertson saga took several twists and turns over draft weekend, and on Monday morning we’ve learned of a new development that almost came to fruition.

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We knew that Robertson declined a monstrous eight-year, $120 million ($15 million AAV) contract offer to join the Seattle Kraken, and also expressed no interest to go to the St. Louis Blues. However, according to a recent report from Sportnset insider Elliotte Friedman it sounds like he might have been and may still be open to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Friedman revealed during Monday’s episode of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast that Pittsburgh and Dallas were building toward a Robertson trade that ultimately never got done.

Friedman said:

“Now I heard that there were talks with Pittsburgh on Friday or Saturday, and there were a couple of teams who thought there was some momentum there, but obviously it didn’t happen. Pittsburgh, by the way, is another team that people are saying is trying to do something with some heft to it. So I wasn’t so surprised to hear that,”

The 26-year-old Robertson is an RFA, having played out his four-year, $31 million contract extension signed with the Stars in 2022. He racked up 96 points (45 goals, 51 assists) in 82 games last season.

Reports have long suggested that Penguins GM Kyle Dubas would love to get his hands on Robertson, so this news makes plenty of sense. Pittsburgh has an abundance of cap space and would be able to pay the superstar winger just about whatever he wants on a new contract. The only hiccup would be whether they have enough to appease Jim Nill and the Stars in a return package.

Nonetheless, it’s something to monitor moving forward, and Friedman’s comments suggest Dubas could be bound to make a big splash in the coming days and weeks as he looks to help Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and company compete for one last Stanley Cup.

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