The New Jersey Devils want to contend for the Stanley Cup in 2026. New Jersey believed they had a contention-worthy team in 2025, but they unfortunately fell short. The Devils lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
New Jersey made some big moves last summer. Jacob Markstrom came over from the Calgary Flames to bolster their goaltending. Brett Pesce and Brendon Dillon were two significant free agent signings to improve the blueline. And Johnathan Kovacevic was a very solid trade pickup.
Unfortunately, injuries prevented them from going all the way. Jack Hughes missed time, as did star defenseman Dougie Hamilton. Markstrom also had some knocks on him that kept him out of the lineup. It wasn’t the only thing that held the Devils back, but it certainly had an impact.
This summer, New Jersey has not made a splash move. They focused on adding depth to the roster for the most part. Connor Brown, formerly of the Edmonton Oilers, was their big signing in NHL Free Agency.
In saying this, the Devils have room to make a bigger move. And with this in mind, Heavy.com is proposing the following trade between New Jersey and the Dallas Stars:
New Jersey Devils acquire:Â Jason Robertson
Dallas Stars acquire:Â Dawson Mercer, Seamus Casey, a 2026 first-round pick, and a 2027 second-round pick
Stars May Have No Choice But To Trade Jason Robertson
Michael Reaves/Getty ImagesJason Robertson could be a trade candidate of the Dallas Stars this summer.
It’s well documented at this point what the situation is with Robertson and the Stars. The 26-year-old is one of the better young wingers in the NHL. He is the only 100-point scorer in Dallas history since the franchise relocated to Texas. Over the last three seasons, he’s scored 110 goals and 269 points in 246 games.
However, he is a restricted free agent at the end of this season. Star defenseman Thomas Harley is also a restricted free agent. While the Stars could sign Harley to a bridge contract, this won’t be feasible for Robertson, who reaches unrestricted free agency in 2027.
The Stars may need to trade Robertson as a result. And the Devils are uniquely positioned to make a deal. They can offer young, NHL-caliber talent, as this trade proposal shows. More than this, they are in a position to deal first- and second-round picks to acquire a star. All in all, New Jersey is an excellent fit if Robertson heads to the trade market.
What Dallas Gets From Devils in Robertson Trade Pitch
There is a slight drawback to New Jersey’s willingness to trade early-round picks. The Devils are contending, so these picks are likely to be late in the round. As a result, the Stars aren’t getting premium draft capital here.
However, the two young players in this deal could make an immediate impact. Mercer has a 50+ point season under his belt. But his production has declined a bit in New Jersey. He could rediscover his game in Dallas, and play a middle-six offensive role for the Stars.
Casey is coming off a rookie season that was quite impressive. He added an offensive element the New Jersey blueline didn’t have. Dallas has a need for right-shot defensemen, so he could be of interest in a Robertson trade.
The Stars don’t want to trade for a package of futures. They would need immediate impact players, and both of these Devils skaters could fit the bill for Dallas.
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