Nick Belsky reacts to another HUGE road victory for the Penguins, answers all of YOUR (Jason Robertson) questions in this week’s mailbag, and shares his weekly Penguins Power Rankings. Tune in.
Check out Josh Yohe’a article here 👉 https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6985881/2026/01/20/penguins-jason-robertson-trade-rumors-nhl/
*CORRECTION: Jason Robertson will be a RESTRICTED free agent after this season*
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17 Comments
This is my mock trade
To Dallas
• Rickard Rakell
• Anthony Mantha
• Ville Koivunen
• 2026 2nd
• 2027 2nd
• 2028 1st (top-10 protected)
To Pittsburgh
• Jason Robertson (then extended 8 × $12.2M)
Robertson? This guy is a scoring machine and 26. The stars are a playoff team. I really don't see Robertson being traded to the Penguins? It would have to be some high picks and Rust? Rust has experience and 2 cups. He's an older version of Robertson to me. Rust would be a perfect fit for Dallas Stars.
this is the best penguins coverage on the internet. you should be pulling bigger numbers than this. Keep it up
I think you try your best not to give up Will and i think Dallas would want rust. I dont wanna give up rust but i think that is who they would want
I love the idea of a conditional 3rd, I don't know if I enjoy the idea of sending horcoff. I could imagine sending over a package with Rickard Rakell, solovyov, st. Ivany and of course the picks you mentioned
Apologies my trade offer was a sign and trade where he comes over @12×7 hence the 2027 1st
Also Jason Robertson is a pending Restricted free agent.
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Dubas would absolutely not trade Horcoff. His own draft pick that he traded up for who is leading NCAA in goals, who quite honestly has yes lower trajectory but potential like Robertson, (big forward goal scorer). Yes a trade starts with Rickard Rakell. And don’t doubt that Dallas would want another roster player like Mantha because of his cap hit and saves them from dishing future assets for a deadline rental. Pickering would be on the table in this sort of trade (not Dubas draft pick and trust issues). Dubas would be hanging up the phone if it was to have a conditional 1st round pick next year because of team uncertainty. Dubas has said countless times they have piled up and saved these 1st round draft picks for the future as that is their direction. “The next wave of penguins that can be filtered and developed past the Crosby era.” Dallas is looking for NHL caliber or close to NHL ready players. They have said, they would rather not have draft picks or prospects but it’s inevitable in this deal. I don’t think this trade happens in season most likely a draft night or summer move. Dallas is cap compliant and need to fill roster spots next year with cost efficient players as they only have 16 million to work with. Sorry for all that but that’s my opinion and business logic, but here’s my mock:
Robertson
2027 5th
Rakell (5×3)
Brazeau (1.5×2)
Pickering
2026 2nd (WPG) – standing speaking close to a 1st round draft pick. (33rd-38th overall)
2027 cdtl 3rd (NJD) – becomes (NYR) 2nd if penguins make third round of playoffs. – (Rangers could suck next year which again would be close to a 1st round draft pick)
– both of the picks hold close to first round draft pick value and Dubas will be more willing to trade those vs a first rounder because of draft prospect quality.
– Yes giving up 2 roster players sucks in the moment, but you have these prospects and young players in the pipeline for a reason, and you can filter in these guys as soon as next year in Brazeau or Mantha spot (if he walks to free agency). Brazeau has calmed down after his early season surge and is replaceable by guys who will try to earn their roster spots next year (A. Hayes, Broz, Mcgroaty, Koivunen, *Zonnon, *Horcoff) – also fits Dallas mold of a big middle 6 winger, young, 20 goal potential and cost efficient with another year past this one at 1.5mil. Gives them flexibility with roster construction and their cap space.
I agree but I won’t trade William Horcoff I trade Pickering or Koivunen or Broz
Get Jason,then trade for his brother!
I don't know if Horcoff would get it done. The fact that he is in the NCAA and can just walk if he plays out his collegiate career (unlikely though it may be) gives Dallas too much uncertainty for a key piece. I would try and give a first, a third (no conditions), Rakell, and McGroarty. The 1st allows for them to reduce the level of prospect, as I think that Horcoff could be an upgrade over McGroarty. Similar style, higher ceiling.
I just don't see a Robertson trade from anyone happening at the deadline. Dallas is trying to win a Stanley Cup. Any trade would be an offseason move. My trade: Rakell, Voivunen, 2026 2nd rd pick, 2027 1st rd pick. Robertson would be a perfect bridge of a star level player in the post-Crosby era that currently do not have within their system.
These proposed mock trades make Hextall look like a hall of fame gm. Who gives up 6 assets for a player on 1 year deal? Robertson isn't as good as Rantanen either. He's close tho.
If dallas holds on to robertson for their playoff push, Robertson is an RFA next year and a UFA the following year. Why not just offer sheet him?
Stick with the team, don’t sell off anything crazy at the dead line- maybe upgrade depth scoring or defense
damn, horcoff? that would be a little bit of a bummer
I don’t know about sending racks, I think it’s tough to make this trade work out. I don’t like sending horcoff if you’re also sending potentially multiple 1st round picks. Thats insane to me.