Jason Robertson is back at the center of trade talk, and Glen Gulutzan now has a summer story hanging over Dallas.
The latest turn came from Elliotte Friedman, who tied Robertson to Pittsburgh after talks picked up steam over the weekend.
That shifts this from routine contract noise to something with real pressure around the Stars and the Penguins.
Robertson already turned down what was described as a massive offer from Seattle, reportedly worth $15 million per season over 8 years.
That decision left Dallas staring at a tougher spot if the club is seriously weighing a trade instead of finding common ground.
Friedman laid out the connection in direct terms: "I heard that there were talks with Pittsburgh on Friday or Saturday," revealed Friedman on the 32 Thoughts podcast.
He didn't stop there, and that's where this started to feel bigger than a passing rumor.
Pittsburgh noise is getting louder to acquire Jason Robertson
" There were a couple of teams who thought there was some momentum there, but obviously it didn't happen," added Friedman.
That matters because it suggests league circles saw more than a random check-in. They saw a path that at least had some traction.
For Pittsburgh, the fit is easy to understand. Any chance to drop Robertson next to Sidney Crosby gets attention fast.
Friedman also made it clear this lines up with broader chatter around the Penguins' plans. "Pittsburgh by the way is another team that people are saying is trying to do something with some heft to it," revealed Friedman. "So I wasn't so surprised to hear that."
Dallas still looks like Robertson's preferred landing spot when all of this settles, which keeps the contract gap at the heart of the story.
Friedman said the Stars are believed to be around $12 million per season, while Robertson is looking for upwards of $14 million.
That's the standoff. If neither side moves, the Penguins are now firmly in the conversation.
Should the Penguins go all-in for Jason Robertson?
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