Mitch Marner's contract situation last offseason feels similar to Jason Robertson's current situation.
What happened?
The Toronto Maple Leafs negotiated a sign-and-trade deal with the Vegas Golden Knights for Mitch Marner.
The Maple Leafs received Nicolas Roy in return, who was later traded for a first-round pick.
Why it matters for Mitch Marner
The deal shows that teams can get value from a sign-and-trade, even if the player is unlikely to return.
The Dallas Stars are in a similar situation with Jason Robertson, who put up 45 goals and 51 assists for a 96-point season.
What comes next?
The Stars will likely try to negotiate a sign-and-trade deal for Robertson, rather than losing him for nothing.
The team's salary cap situation makes it difficult to keep Robertson, but a sign-and-trade could bring in valuable assets.
The Maple Leafs' deal with Marner provides a blueprint for the Stars to follow, and could help them get the most value from Robertson's departure.
On the other hand, the Stars would prefer to keep Robertson, but rumors suggest the Ottawa Senators are interested in signing him.
The Stars will need to act quickly to ensure they get a good return for Robertson, rather than losing him to another team.
The situation is complex, but the Maple Leafs' deal with Marner shows that it's possible to get value from a sign-and-trade.
The Stars will be watching the situation closely, and will likely try to follow the Maple Leafs' example.
The key will be to negotiate a good deal, and to get the most value possible from Robertson's departure.
The Stars have a lot to consider, but the Maple Leafs' deal with Marner provides a useful model to follow.