Jason Robertson Blew Off a $15 Million Kraken Deal, and We Are NOT Okay
Holy smokes, Seattle, can we talk about what almost just happened? We're barely into free agency season and already our hearts are collectively broken. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman dropped a bombshell report that will have you clutching your Kraken jerseys: Dallas Stars superstar Jason Robertson, the dude who racked up 45 goals and 96 points last season, reportedly turned down a massive $15 million per season contract offer as part of a sign-and-trade deal. And guess who was on the other end of that offer? YOUR SEATTLE KRAKEN! Yeah, you heard that right. A $15 million offer, from us, to bring a legitimate scoring machine to Climate Pledge Arena, and he said NO.
The One That Got Away: A Kraken Heartbreak
Can you even imagine Robertson in green and blue? The thought alone is enough to make a fan dream. But alas, reports suggest his preference is to remain with the Stars, which, fine, whatever. But seriously, $15 million! That's a huge commitment, and it shows the Kraken were swinging for the fences early. Robertson is coming off his entry-level contract and is clearly looking for a massive payday, which is totally fair given his monster numbers. This revelation came out right as the NHL's restricted free agency deadline hit on Monday, 2 p.m. PT. Any player who didn't get a qualifying offer by then became an unrestricted free agent, able to talk with teams as of Tuesday and sign offer sheets on Wednesday when free agency officially opens. Our Kraken went big, and the player just didn't want to come to the Emerald City, at least not this time. It stings, doesn't it?
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Who Else Got the Bag? The RFA Landscape Heats Up
While we're still recovering from the Robertson news, it's worth checking in on the rest of the RFA class, because teams across the league are making moves that shape their seasons. Young studs like Anaheim's Leo Carlsson, who posted 29 goals and 67 points, and Cutter Gauthier, with his ridiculous 41 goals and 69 points, both received their qualifying offers. These two are apparently "some of Anaheim's most important players," which makes sense given those stats. Out in Chicago, Connor Bedard, who just finished his entry-level deal, got his qualifying offer and is due a big raise. Meanwhile, Calgary made sure to qualify Simon Nemec, whom they just traded for, expecting him to be a key player on their blue line. Columbus is clearly trying to keep their young talent too, qualifying Adam Fantilli, who had 24 goals and 25 assists, and goalie Jet Greaves, who broke out in net and even played for Team Canada.
Of course, not everyone got an offer. Carolina, for example, didn't qualify Skyler Brind'Amour, who happens to be the son of their coach. It just goes to show you, this RFA period is all about tough decisions, big money, and sometimes, players just aren't ready to jump ship. For us, the Robertson news is a gut punch, but it proves our Kraken are serious about building a contender. Free agency officially opens Wednesday, so let's see what other drama unfolds. Get ready, because the action is just getting started, and we'll be here for every single second of it!
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.