Blue Jackets and Stars face pivotal contract decisions this offseason

Zach Werenski enters the final two years of his six-year, $57.5 million contract with a $9.58 million cap hit while the Blue Jackets prioritize the draft.

Blue Jackets delay Werenski talks until after draft

Don Waddell confirmed the team’s number-one focus remains the draft before any extension discussions with Zach Werenski. The Blue Jackets hold two years on Werenski’s deal and cannot negotiate a new contract until July 1, 2027, one year before unrestricted free agency in 2028. Multiple insiders report Werenski has not requested a trade, contrasting with speculation fueled by the team’s playoff drought. Waddell stated one-thousand percent commitment to keeping the reigning Norris Trophy winner long term. Werenski led the Jackets in points the past two seasons at age 28.

The Blue Jackets’ strategy contrasts with immediate extension pursuits by other clubs facing similar core decisions. Post-draft chaos must subside before talks resume, according to Mark Scheig. Failure to extend Werenski by 2027 would force a trade or loss in unrestricted free agency, widening the gap to playoff contenders. The $9.58 million cap hit already represents 8.44 percent of the projected ceiling in later years.

Stars weigh extension options for Robertson amid offer-sheet threat

Darren Dreger reported the Dallas Stars will soon issue their best and final contract offer to Jason Robertson. Robertson’s prior four-year, $31 million deal carried a $7.75 million cap hit and expires in 2026, making him a restricted free agent. His reported asking price reaches $14 million annually, exceeding the Stars’ projected ceiling near $12 million. The club holds priority on re-signing the 26-year-old winger who posted 45 goals and 96 points last season.

Trade options emerge if Robertson rejects the offer, with agent Andy Scott permitted to negotiate elsewhere. An offer sheet from any of the majority of teams possessing four first-round picks represents a credible threat. The Stars’ willingness to explore extensions with acquiring clubs forms option B, while option C involves the explicit risk of compensation. This sequence differs from the Blue Jackets’ deferred timeline on Werenski.

Gallagher talks between Canucks and Canadiens add secondary context

Darren Dreger noted ongoing discussions between Vancouver and Montreal regarding Brendan Gallagher. A trade remains option A, while a buyout could follow if no deal materializes, freeing Gallagher at $6.5 million for 2026-27. The Canadiens would then allow his agent Jerry Johansson to test the market as a buyout free agent. This situation highlights cap flexibility pressures facing multiple clubs this summer.

The Blue Jackets and Stars decisions will shape roster continuity more directly than peripheral trades. Werenski’s two remaining seasons and Robertson’s RFA status create immediate windows measured against the 2027-28 unrestricted free agency horizon.