What Jason Robertson’s Kraken Trade Package Could Have Been – Hockey Writers – Seattle Kraken

The NHL has been busy with trades ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft, but nothing shook the Seattle Kraken more than the news Thursday when Elliotte Friedman reported that Dallas Stars forward Jason Robertson rejected a sign-and-trade agreement with the Kraken that included an eight-year contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $15 million.

It’s shocking, and many people are curious to know what that trade looked like. Here are our best guesses.

What we know: Choice

Friedman was certain the deal included the Kraken’s seventh pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. In five seasons in the NHL, Seattle has never given up a first-round pick. Of the five entries they were a part of, they received four picks higher than tenth overall.

The Kraken love draft centers with that first round pick; four of the five first-round picks were centers. But giving up that opportunity to Robertson would have been better. With the seventh overall pick still in their hands, let’s hope they take advantage of it this year.

What we don’t know: Players

For a player like Robertson, the Kraken would have to give up more than that pick. We don’t know which current players Seattle was willing to give up, but there had to be players scheduled. The management have been busy buying Shane Wright, so there is a good chance that he will be part of this deal. Wright was the fourth overall pick in 2022 and has been a full-time NHLer for the past two seasons. In 169 games, he has 78 points with 36 goals and 42 assists.

Wright’s name came up before the 2026 Trade Deadline after reports suggested he was unhappy with his ice time and overall usage. He may have been among the players the Kraken were willing to part with in exchange for Robertson.

Of course, the Stars would also want a quality player in Robertson, leaving Matty Beniers or Jared McCann. Beniers was the first ever NHL draft pick, drafted second in 2021. He played 331 games with 196 points. He’s a reliable top-six forward, so it would make sense for the Kraken to slot him into Robertson’s pocket.

McCann is the Kraken’s top scorer, making him another potential candidate. He played 11 NHL seasons with four different teams, although he joined the Kraken in the expansion draft when Seattle wanted him from the Toronto Maple Leafs. He played 367 games for 283 points, including a career-high 70 points in the 2022-23 season. Although injuries have gotten the best of him this season, he is a proven player and a staple of the Kraken’s roster.

Seattle’s Building Overall

The Kraken have a little more than $22 million in cash on hand, so they could cover the contract they were giving Robertson. However, he didn’t want to play in Seattle, and that says something about the organization.

Roberston was drafted by the Stars and has been all his life. Since the 2020-21 season, when he became a full-time NHLer, Dallas has made the playoffs five times. He is more likely to achieve his dream of winning a trophy with the Stars than the Kraken right now.

Seattle still needs to work on building a winning culture. They have been in the league for five seasons and have only made the playoffs once, in 2022-23. They may have been going for the postseason this year, but fell midway through the campaign and missed the mark.

Management worked to build this offseason, trading Mackie Samoskevich from the Florida Panthers and re-signing Bobby McMann, but it wasn’t enough. If Seattle wants to add an elite talent like Robertson, they need to work on building that winning culture. The way they are going now will not cut it.