Stars Cap Clearance
Dallas Stars consider trading $3.25M defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin to secure Jason Robertson's extension.
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The Dallas Stars are shopping defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin and his $3.25 million contract to free up cap space for a Jason Robertson extension, according to Sporting News. Robertson, the team's top scorer, put up 45 goals and 96 points in 2025-26 and is expected to command more than $12 million per year as a pending restricted free agent.
Dallas has roughly $10.14 million in cap space for 2026-27, per Yahoo Sports. That gap between available space and Robertson's projected price tag is forcing GM Jim Nill to make cuts — and Lyubushkin is first in line.
Robertson's Price Tag Creates a Cap Crunch
The NHL salary cap jumped to a record $104 million for 2026-27. Despite that increase, Dallas still can't fit Robertson's expected deal. His agent is pushing for a figure well above $12 million per year. That number sits above the $10.587 million AAV Dallas gave defenseman Thomas Harley, which Robertson's camp now treats as a floor, not a ceiling.
The Stars also carry a roughly $2.08 million cap overage penalty from performance bonuses. That eats into the room Nill needs. GM Nill has said re-signing Robertson is the "top priority" and that "we think he will be a Dallas Star for the rest of his career," but the math is working against him.
Lyubushkin Becomes a Cap Casualty Target
Ilya Lyubushkin signed a 3-year, $9.75 million deal in July 2024. He was brought in as a physical depth defender — he logged 176 hits in his first year with Dallas. But his role has shrunk to seventh defenseman, and he has been a healthy scratch at times this season, according to Sporting News.
Insiders report Dallas is "trying hard" to move him. Analyst Frank Seravalli noted the Stars may need to attach a draft pick to get a team to take on the full $3.25 million contract. The Vancouver Canucks have emerged as a potential suitor, per reports.
Radek Faksa Also on the Trade Block
Lyubushkin isn't the only player Dallas is willing to move. According to Sporting News, the Stars are also considering trading fan favorite Radek Faksa to stack up more cap relief. Faksa is a popular veteran known for his two-way play and locker room presence, making any trade a tough sell to the fan base.
Together, moving both Lyubushkin and Faksa could clear enough space to get a Robertson deal done. Dallas still has a strong defensive core in Miro Heiskanen, Thomas Harley, and Nils Lundkvist. Losing Lyubushkin's physicality hurts, but the front office appears ready to accept that trade-off.
Offer Sheet Threat Adds Urgency Before July 1
The clock is ticking. July 1 is when the NHL's offer sheet window opens for restricted free agents. Any team that signs Robertson to an offer sheet above $11.9 million would cost Dallas four first-round picks in compensation — a steep price that would likely scare off most teams. But the threat is real, and it gives the Stars only a slim window to act.
Rising center Mavrik Bourque is also a pending RFA. His deal is projected around $2.9 million. If Dallas gets too focused on Robertson, Bourque could become vulnerable to a "poison pill" offer sheet — a deal structured so Dallas can't match it without gutting the roster. Analyst Jeff Marek put it bluntly: "Either we have a deal, or we have a trade," per Yahoo Sports.
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