One of the biggest questions facing the Detroit Red Wings amidst the ongoing saga with the trade request from captain Dylan Larkin is what kind of package they’ll receive in return.
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Speculation has ranged everywhere from getting NHL ready players and prospects in return to simply getting a futures-driven package of draft capital, the latter of which would do nothing to help Detroit in the short-term.
In recent days, it has been reported that the Dallas Stars have emerged as a potential frontrunner for Larkin, and the most obvious return request that GM Steve Yzerman could ask from former Red Wings assistant GM Jim Nill are the rights to pending RFA forward Jason Robertson.
However, acquiring Robertson and getting him signed to a new contract that Yzerman would be comfortable with may prove difficult.
According to NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman, Robertson rejected a contract offer from the Seattle Kraken, whom he was granted permission to speak with, that would have paid him $15 million annually over eight years.
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An annual salary of $15 million would have made Robertson the second-highest paid player in the NHL behind only Minnesota Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov, who now earns $17 million per season, and ahead of Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl, who earns $14 million annually.
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Meanwhile, the Stars themselves are experiencing difficulties in signing their three-time 40-goal scorer. According to ESPN’s Emily Kaplan, Robertson rejected a contract that would have paid him $12 million annually, the same AAV that star forward Mikko Rantanen is now earning.
“According to one NHL source, the Stars had offered Robertson a contract of eight years with $12 million AAV, which would match the contract they handed Mikko Rantanen after acquiring the winger from the Hurricanes,” Kaplan reported.
What’s more, Robertson also reportedly rejected a move that would have sent him to the St. Louis Blues, as he’s allegedly not interested in joining them.
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