One NHL team that could face uncertainty are the Dallas Stars. Despite having a team strongly built together, the Stars have lost in the Western Conference Finals in each of the past three seasons.
Dallas has been unable to get over the hump for years. Moving forward, the team might be wanting to trade a player or two due to having under $5 million in cap space, which is currently the lowest among all 32 teams in the NHL.
One player to keep an eye on the Stars is 25-year old superstar Jason Robertson. Yesterday, rumors that the Ottawa Senators could be linked to a potential trade for Robertson began to fly. However, as much as trading for Robertson can help the Senators, there might be one Senator that would likely need to be involved in the trade if the Senators want to get the former 2023 All-Star.
Batherson might need to be involved in trade for Robo
If the Senators want to make a trade for Robertson, 27-year-old forward Drake Batherson would likely need to be the top player involved for the Stars to receive. Although the Stars could demand more in return for Roberson and have reason to, Batherson might be the top forward that would need to get dealt.
One particular reason is the play Batherson produces for his contract. For a player making under $5 million per year, Batherson has recorded three consecutive seasons of at least 60 points. That production would offer a bang for your buck for a team like the Stars. Batherson has two years left on his contract and will be an unrestricted free agent.
Batherson's contract factors into Robertson's current contract. Robertson will be a restricted free agent after the 2025-26 season at a salary of $7.75 million. Getting Batherson and potentially more like prospects and draft picks for Robertson can help free up some cap space for the Stars to re-sign players on the roster.
The Stars have crucial free agents this Summer with captain Jamie Benn, Matt Duchene, Evgenii Dadonov, Cody Ceci, Mikael Granlund, Mavrik Bourque, Colin Blackwell and Brendan Smith.
While Batherson's 68 points in the 2024-25 regular season was a new career-high, his play in the 2025 playoffs took a drop. After scoring the Senators' first goal of the 2025 playoffs, Batherson recorded just one assist for the remainder of the series against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Batherson's play in the playoffs may have raised some concern among the Senators.
Another reason the Stars could want Batherson is his health. Batherson has not missed a game for the Senators in each of the past three seasons. Having an everyday player in the lineup who's healthy is a major factor when trading for a player.
Robertson and Dallas can face some uncertainty moving forward. The trade rumors could potentially pick up more as the 2025 NHL Draft approaches.
If the Senators do want to trade for a player who has recorded 394 points in 374 games, Batherson is a player the Stars could demand in a potential trade. The Stars could also demand more, but trading for Robertson would be a bold move for the Senators.