The Dallas Stars Are About to Dump a $3.25 Million D-Man and Nobody in the League Is Ready For It

Alright, Seattle, listen up, because what's brewing down in Dallas is exactly the kind of gritty cap maneuvering that makes you realize just how wild the NHL can get. We're talking about a move that shows you don't mess around when you've got a franchise talent to lock down. The Dallas Stars are reportedly ready to move defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin and his $3.25 million contract, and it's all to clear the path for their superstar, Jason Robertson. This isn't just another trade rumor, folks, this is GM Jim Nill playing chess while everyone else is playing checkers.

Jason Robertson's Contract Is Going to Be MASSIVE

Let's cut right to it: Jason Robertson is a certified, no-doubt-about-it, superstar winger. The dude was their leading goal scorer, and as a pending restricted free agent, he's about to get PAID. We're talking a new deal expected to rocket past $12 million per year, easily matching market-setting contracts we've seen like Mikko Rantanen's. And here's the rub for Dallas: PuckPedia says they've only got $10.14 million in salary cap space for the 2026-27 season. You don't need to be a math genius to see that's not going to cut it for Robertson. GM Jim Nill has got to make some room, and fast. This is the kind of pressure that forces big decisions.

Lyubushkin Is the Odd Man Out, And It Makes Sense

So, who's on the chopping block? It looks like Ilya Lyubushkin i

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s the guy. David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, on the Hello Hockey podcast, first spilled the tea that Dallas was trying to clear salary around the trade deadline and would likely look to move Lyubushkin. Now, Frank Seravalli of Frankly Hockey is reporting the Stars are actively shopping the defenseman. And honestly, for Dallas, it makes perfect sense. Lyubushkin is entering the final year of a three-year deal he inked in 2024, carrying that $3.25 million cap hit. The tough truth? His regular season appearances dropped from 80 games in his first year with the Stars to just 53 games last season. That's a lot of cash for a guy playing a limited, depth role. As analyst Nick Assimakopoulos straight up said for Yahoo Sports, "The simplest and most impactful move would be trading Lyubushkin. Simply put, the Stars aren't using him enough to make his $3.25M contract worth it." Dallas still has Miro Heiskanen, Nils Lundkvist, and Thomas Harley holding down the fort on defense, and they could always bring back Alexander Petrovic for cheaper if needed. They can afford to lose him to keep their offensive firepower. This is a classic cap move, a harsh reality of professional sports, and it shows the kind of aggressive management you need to keep your stars in this league. The 2026 NHL Draft is right around the corner on June 26,27, so GM Nill's window to make this happen is wide open right now. You gotta be watching this, Emerald City, because this is how contenders make tough calls to stay at the top.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.