FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Jason Robertson remained an unsigned restricted free agent Wednesday, days after the Dallas Stars had a deal in place to trade their high-scoring homegrown forward that they still hope to keep.
General manager Jim Nill said on the first day of NHL free agency that the goal still was to sign Robertson, and that he remained in contact with the forward's representatives.
“Really no update on Jason,” Nill said. “I think everybody needs to understand that this is July 1. The games don't start until September, and this is part of the contract negotiations.”
Nill had acknowledged last Saturday after the conclusion of the NHL draft that the Stars had a sign-and-trade deal in place to send Robertson to Seattle for the seventh overall pick. While Robertson couldn’t veto that trade, he wouldn’t agree to a long-term deal with the Kraken — a reported $120 million over eight years ($15 million a season).
The highest-paid Stars player is forward Mikko Rantanen, who just completed the first season of the $96 million, eight-year extension ($12 million a season) he signed to facilitate the deadline trade that brought him to Dallas from Carolina in March 2025.
Robertson, who turns 27 on July 22, just finished a $31 million, four-year deal he got in 2022.
Dallas made a qualifying offer to Robertson before free agency opened, and would have the opportunity to match any offers made by other teams. If not matched, the Stars could get draft-pick compensation, four first-round selections for a qualifying offer of at least $11,939,167.
Another possibility could be Robertson or the Stars filing for salary arbitration to determine a 2026-27 contract before he could become an unrestricted free agent next summer. The arbitration filing deadline is Saturday.
“I don't really know,” Nill responded when asked if he thought that could happen. "I really can't answer that. I don't know what they're thinking, and we're working through those things."
The Stars drafted Robertson 39th overall in the second round of the 2017 draft. He has 490 points (213 goals and 277 assists) in 456 regular-season games since his NHL debut in February 2020.
Robertson was coming off a 41-goal season the last time he became a restricted free agent. He missed most of training camp in a contract holdout before signing, then had a 109-point season (46 goals and 63 assists) in 2022-23.
He played all 328 regular-season games the past four seasons, scoring 365 points (155 goals and 210 assists) in that span. He was Dallas' top scorer with 96 points last season, with 45 goals for his third 40-goal season.
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FILE - Dallas Stars left wing Jason Robertson speaks during media availability Monday, May 4, 2026, in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero,File)
FILE - Dallas Stars' Jason Robertson watches a face-off during Game 2 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoffs hockey series against the Minnesota Wild Monday, April 20, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez,File)
SEATTLE (AP) — Down to its final last-gasp chances, Belgium came through with goals — three of them.
The Red Devils overturned a two-goal deficit with two scores in the final minutes of regulation time and then added a third in the final seconds of extra time to somehow claw back into the game and beat Senegal 3-2 Wednesday in the round of 32 at the World Cup.
Youri Tielemans scored the equalizing goal in the 89th minute and then converted from the penalty spot in the fifth minute of stoppage time in extra time for the latest goal in World Cup history. He was fouled with only seconds to go and with a penalty shootout looming, and the referee awarded the spot kick after a video review.
“I do not want to interpret the decision. We all have different interpretations when it comes to awarding a penalty," Senegal coach Pape Thiaw said. "I’d rather not comment, not interpreting the referee’s decision.”
The win for Belgium marked the second time in the last 11 World Cups that a team trailed by two or more goals in the knockout round and advanced. Belgium also did so in a 3-2 victory over Japan in the round of 16 at the 2018 tournament.
Many of the key players from that Belgium team, which finished in third place in Russia, were instrumental to Wednesday’s victory.
Striker Romelu Lukaku, who leads his nation in goals scored, came off the bench to get Belgium back into the match by scoring in the 86th minute, setting the scene for Tielemans to force extra time.
“It is a cruel loss, as we were good in the game," Thiaw said. "We had the advantage. We were leading 2-0. However a football match is not an 85-minute one. Belgium came back, and we were not able to deal with that ... We must congratulate Belgium as they progress.”
Belgium is back in the round of 16 for the third time in four tournaments. The team reached the quarterfinals in 2014 and the semifinals in 2018 but failed to get out of the group stage four years ago in Qatar.
The Belgians will next face either the United States or Bosnia-Herzegovina on Monday in Seattle.
Ismaïla Sarr scored his fourth goal of the World Cup, and one of the most beautiful of the tournament, to give Senegal a 2-0 lead in the 51st minute. He made a perfect first touch off his chest on a long ball from Moussa Niakhaté and then sent his shot past Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
Senegal, which was without goalkeeper Édouard Mendy because of a knee injury, took the lead on Habib Diarra’s goal in the 25th minute.
Courtois, who is playing in his fourth World Cup, then made three key saves to keep Senegal from increasing its lead.
It’s the second time this year Senegal has been hit with a late penalty in a big game.
In the Africa Cup of Nations final on Jan. 18, Senegal’s players left the field in stoppage time after having a late goal ruled out before Morocco was awarded a potentially game-deciding penalty. There were scuffles between rival players before Senegal coach Pape Thiaw led most of his players off the field.
They returned after about 10 minutes later and play resumed with Morocco midfielder Brahim Díaz having his penalty saved by Mendy. Senegal midfielder Pape Gueye then scored the only goal in extra time, but the victory was taken away in March by the governing body of African soccer and Morocco was awarded a 3-0 default victory.
In Wednesday's match, Senegal defender Pathé Ciss went down with an injury directly on top of the penalty spot in an apparent protest as his teammates argued with the referee. Ciss only moved once it was time for Tielemans to take the shot.
“Well, when the penalty was awarded, we had our own interpretation. We believed that there was no penalty," Thiaw said. "The players tried to challenge the decision. It’s their right. And, then the penalty was taken. And, this is why we were eliminated.”
Senegal had advanced to the knockout round as one of the best third-place finishers, ending up in that spot after playing in a tough group with two-time champion France and the Erling Haaland-led Norway.
Belgium players Kevin De Bruyne and Jérémy Doku both surprisingly came off in the 56th minute.
See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here
Senegal's Habib Diarra (21) scores their first goal past Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, left, and Belgium's Brandon Mechele, right, during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Belgium and Senegal in Seattle, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Senegal's Ismaila Sarr (18) is congratulated after scoring his side's 2nd goal during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Belgium and Senegal in Seattle, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Senegal's Ismaila Sarr (18) scores their second goal during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Belgium and Senegal in Seattle, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Belgium's Romelu Lukaku (9) celebrates scoring their first goal during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Belgium and Senegal in Seattle, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Belgium's Youri Tielemans (8) celebrates after scoring during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Belgium and Senegal in Seattle, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
