Following a disappointing 2024–25 campaign, the New York Rangers are aiming to make significant changes to their roster. With limited salary cap flexibility and several players on unmovable contracts, President and General Manager Chris Drury will need to get creative in reshaping the team. He must explore every possible avenue to ensure the Rangers bounce back and prove that last season was an outlier.
One potential target Drury should consider is Jason Robertson. Since the Dallas Stars were knocked out in the Western Conference Finals, Robertson’s name has surfaced in trade rumors. He would be an ideal addition for the Rangers to pursue this offseason.
Why the Jason Robertson is a perfect fit for the Rangers
Since entering the NHL in the 2019-20 season, he has consistently been among the league’s top offensive threats. Over 374 games, he’s accumulated 168 goals and 226 assists, totaling 394 points. While he hasn’t earned any major awards, he came close during his rookie campaign, finishing second in Calder Trophy voting in 2020-21. This past season, Robertson remained a reliable scorer, notching 35 goals and 45 assists for 80 points.
But what truly stood out about Robertson’s 2024-25 season wasn’t just his offense—it was his defensive growth. Previously criticized for a lack of defensive impact, Robertson flipped the script this year and emerged as one of the NHL’s most complete forwards.
His defensive-zone performance was 23% better than the league average, a dramatic improvement that would make him an ideal fit in Mike Sullivan’s system as the Rangers’ new head coach.
At just 25 years old, Robertson’s best hockey is likely still ahead of him. Even if his defensive play has already peaked, he’s surpassed expectations and solidified his status as a well-rounded forward. His skill set would be a major boost to a Rangers forward group that has struggled defensively—an area where the blame has often unfairly rested solely on the blue line.
In reality, the top-six forwards haven’t contributed enough defensively, and someone like Robertson could help shift that dynamic.
The challenge, however, is the cost of acquiring him. Dallas, just three wins away from a Stanley Cup Final berth, isn’t likely to trade Robertson for future assets—they’ll want a proven NHL contributor. The Rangers would also need to account for Robertson’s $7.75 million cap hit.
A potential trade package might involve a player like Will Cuylle or K’Andre Miller along with draft picks. While parting with such talent is tough, adding a player of Robertson’s caliber could align better with the team’s championship timeline than holding onto current roster pieces.
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