Penguins eyeing Robertson as target? — The Fourth Period
The Pittsburgh Penguins are poised to remain in the playoff hunt this season and currently sit third in the Metropolitan Division with a 23-14-11 record.
It is no secret that the Penguins have surprised this season. When the puck dropped on the 2025-26 campaign, the expectation this year was this team was going to sell off a number of its assets and finish near the bottom of the standings.
Now, it seems as if the club is looking at both playoff action and the future, as GM Kyle Dubas may go fishing for a young top-six forward this season.
According to Josh Yohe of The Athletic, “the Penguins absolutely love Jason Robertson.”
Robertson, 26, has collected 27 goals and 29 assists for 56 points in 49 games with the Dallas Stars so far this season. He is eligible to become a restricted free agent in July, and given the number of high-end contracts the Stars already have on their roster, there is plenty of speculation over his future in Dallas.
Enter the Penguins, who, like many other teams, are keeping tabs on Robertson and his status with the Stars.
Robertson changed representation this week, and he and his brother Nick, who plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs, have brought on Andy Scott as their new agent. Scott represents over 25 players in the NHL, including Stars forwards Mikko Rantanen and Wyatt Johnston, and defenceman Thomas Harley, Edmonton Oilers superstar Leon Draisaitl, and Montreal Canadiens sniper Patrik Laine, among others.
“Robertson is a young star, and the Penguins badly covet one of those,” Yohe wrote in his latest column. “They could spend whatever it takes to get him without badly disrupting their rebuild.”
If the Stars explore a trade involving Robertson, it is not expected to happen this season and may wait for around the NHL Draft, as he is arbitration eligible. And if the Stars take calls on him, most of the NHL will surely inquire.
“I don’t envision the Penguins trying to sign Robertson as a restricted free agent – the compensation for that approach is over the top,” Yohe added. “But I’d be shocked if Dubas didn’t engage in trade discussions if Dallas decides there’s no way it can bring him back long-term.”
VieW TFP’s Trade watch List
Meanwhile, Yohe also reported that Evgeni Malkin is willing to sign a one-year contract extension with the Penguins at less than the $6.1 million cap hit he has this year.
The 39-year-old has tallied 10 goals and 25 assists for 35 points in 33 games so far this season.
