Brady Tkachuk's trade to Florida could create a major problem for Dallas

The Brady Tkachuk trade to the Florida Panthers landed like a grenade Sunday afternoon, and the shrapnel is already flying toward Dallas.

Sources say the Ottawa Senators are making a serious push for Jason Robertson, who becomes an RFA on July 1.

Robertson, 26, just wrapped a 96-point regular season, 45 goals, 51 assists, nine game-winning goals in 82 games.

He then added 5 goals and 8 points in 6 playoff games. That is not a player you let walk.

His current cap hit is $7,750,000. Whatever Ottawa is prepared to offer on an offer sheet, it will not look anything like that number.

Stars already carrying Rantanen's $12 million, now facing a Robertson raise

Dallas is also carrying Mikko Rantanen at $12,000,000 on the cap, and Wyatt Johnston at $8,400,000.

Johnston just had 45 goals and 86 points of his own. The Stars' top three forwards alone represent a cap problem that Jim Nill cannot solve without a hard choice.

If Ottawa tables an offer sheet, Dallas has the right to match. But matching means finding the cap room to do it.

Robertson posted 13 points in his last 10 regular-season games. He was the driving engine of a Stars offence that went 50-20-12, third overall in the league.

Pull him out of that locker room and Glen Gulutzan's forward group looks considerably thinner.

Think of it like pulling the keystone from an arch. Everything around it is still there. It just does not hold the same shape.

Ottawa GM Steve Staios just watched Brady Tkachuk get moved to Florida. His best player, his franchise identity, gone. An offer sheet on Robertson is not a rebuild move, it is a statement.

The Senators finished 44-27-11, 99 points, ninth overall. They need top-end talent and they clearly are not afraid to go get it the aggressive way.

Dallas beat Ottawa twice this season, including a 6-1 blowout at home. So Robertson already knows what he is worth to a team chasing Ottawa's level.

The question right now is whether Nill is in a position to match whatever Ottawa puts on the table. Cap math is not sentiment.

Robertson is the kind of player you build your top six around, your power play around, your entire offensive identity around. The Stars went 50 wins with him. Without him, that conversation changes fast.