The Dallas Stars are staring down the barrel of a salary cap nightmare, and general manager Jim Nill has some incredibly tough decisions to make. Star forward Jason Robertson’s name has officially entered the NHL rumor mill, with chatter connecting him to teams like the Pittsburgh Penguins and Chicago Blackhawks. Why? Because the Stars simply might not be able to afford his next blockbuster contract.
With Robertson seeking a massive payday, the math in Dallas isn’t adding up. As a restricted free agent with arbitration rights, and just one year away from unrestricted free agency, Robertson holds all the leverage. Coming off a four-year deal with a $7.75 million average annual value (AAV), the 26-year-old phenom is reportedly eyeing a contract in the neighborhood of $12 million AAV. With only $11 million in projected cap space and 19 active roster players currently signed, the Stars are in a bind. Something has to give, and all signs point to the blue line. This is exactly where the Dallas Stars and Tyler Myers find themselves at a crossroads.
Jason Robertson’s Contract Demands and the Cap Ripple Effect
As an NHL analyst, I look at the Dallas Stars’ salary cap sheet and immediately see the stress points. You cannot pay a player $12 million without shedding salary elsewhere, especially in a cap environment. If Dallas determines that trading a generational talent like Robertson is off the table, which should absolutely be their stance, they are forced to look at secondary pieces to sacrifice.
According to Lia Assimakopoulos of the Dallas Morning News, the focus has shifted entirely to shedding mid-tier contracts. While a depth forward like Sam Steel might be part of the equation, the most glaring candidate is on the back end.
Why Tyler Myers is the Prime Trade Candidate for the Dallas Stars
When you break down the roster, Tyler Myers sticks out as the most logical cap casualty. Carrying a one-year deal at a $1.5 million cap hit, moving Myers would provide the Dallas Stars with immediate, necessary breathing room. However, executing this trade is easier said than done.
My take on this situation is straightforward: management’s hands are tied by recent performance. Tyler Myers was brought in from the Vancouver Canucks before the NHL trade deadline as a veteran reinforcement, but he simply hasn’t been a good fit in the Stars’ system. His heavy-footed transitions and struggles to adapt to Dallas’ breakout schemes have been noticeable.
Because of these struggles, Myers’ trade value has taken a significant hit. The Dallas Stars might find themselves in a position where they have to attach a sweetener, like a mid-round draft pick or a B-level prospect, just to get another team to take on Myers’ $1.5 million hit. But when the alternative is losing a superstar like Jason Robertson, trading Tyler Myers becomes a necessary evil to keep your championship window open.
Tyler Myers Career NHL Stats
| Type | GP | G | A | P | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Season | 1139 | 100 | 306 | 406 | -12 |
| Playoffs | 66 | 7 | 9 | 16 | -8 |
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If you move Myers and clear 1.5 million, you have 12.6 million in caps pace. Sign your superstar for 12 million, and leave yourself 600 thousand to sign another 4 players to fill out your roster. There isn’t enough left over to even sign one player. Don’t know what you’re thinking here, I’m baffled with this idea.
You looked at their Roster and Cap situation and came to….Myers w/ Sweetener..at 1.5….and not Lyubushkin w/ Sweetener at 3.25?
Stop writing articles.