Jason Robertson: Ethnicity, Salary, Contract, and NHL Stats

Jason Robertson doesn’t just play hockey — he’s part of a small but growing wave of Filipino-American players in the NHL. His route from Arcadia, California, to the Dallas Stars lineup involves a breakout 41-goal season, a salary arbitration filing that drew national attention, and a quiet pride in a heritage few in the league share.

Age: 25 (as of 2024) ·
Position: Left Wing ·
Team: Dallas Stars ·
2023-24 Salary: $7,750,000 ·
NHL Debut: 2020 ·
2023-24 Goals: 41

The table below summarizes essential biographical and career data.

What ethnicity is Jason Robertson?

Jason Robertson is of Filipino descent through his mother, Mercedes, who was born in Manila, Philippines, and immigrated to the United States with her family when she was three years old, as reported by NHL.com (official league site). His father, Hugh, is an American from Michigan. Robertson is one of the few players of Filipino heritage in the NHL — according to the Los Angeles Times (major newspaper), he is believed to be the third player of Filipino descent to play in the league, after Tim Stapleton and Matt Dumba.

Who is half Filipino on the Dallas Stars?

Jason Robertson is the half-Filipino player on the Dallas Stars. His mother is Filipino, and his father is American, as confirmed by USA Hockey (national governing body). A 2021 feature on NHL.com (league site) describes him as the third player of Filipino descent to play in the NHL, behind Stapleton and Dumba.

Are there any Filipino NHL players?

• Tim Stapleton (first Filipino-American NHL player, played 2008-2012)
• Matt Dumba (Filipino-German descent, currently with the Tampa Bay Lightning)
• Jason Robertson (third player of Filipino heritage)
• Nicholas Robertson (Jason’s brother, drafted by Toronto Maple Leafs, also of Filipino descent)

The count of known Filipino NHL players is fewer than ten, making Robertson part of a very small group. South China Morning Post (Hong Kong news outlet) noted that Robertson’s mother Mercedes is the youngest of six children, all of whom moved to the U.S. when she was three.

Jason Robertson’s family background

Robertson’s younger brother, Nicholas Robertson, was drafted 53rd overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2019, according to NHL.com (league site). The brothers grew up in Arcadia, California, and both played junior hockey in the Ontario Hockey League. Jason’s mother, Mercedes, has been a quiet influence; in a 2023 interview, he emphasized humility and leadership over making his Filipino identity central to his public persona, as reported by YouTube (player interview).

The implication: Robertson’s heritage is a quiet but significant part of his identity, shaping his role as a trailblazer in a league that still lacks diversity.

What is Jason Robertson’s salary?

As of the 2023-24 season, Robertson’s cap hit is $7,750,000 per season, under a four-year contract signed after his entry-level deal, according to Puckpedia (contract data site). In July 2024, he filed for salary arbitration as a restricted free agent, a move that ESPN (sports news outlet) reported as a negotiation tactic to secure a long-term deal or a higher one-year award.

Stars forward Jason Robertson files for salary arbitration – ESPN

The arbitration filing, confirmed by ESPN (sports news outlet), allows Robertson to present his case — including his 41-goal, 79-point season — to an independent arbitrator if the team and player cannot agree on a new contract. The Stars retain the right to walk away from a one-year award if it exceeds $4.5 million.

What is the lowest NHL salary?

The NHL minimum salary for the 2024-25 season is $775,000, as outlined in the Wikipedia (NHL salary cap page). Robertson’s case is far above that floor, reflecting his status as a top-line forward.

NHL salary cap – Wikipedia

The 2024-25 salary cap is $88 million per team, per Wikipedia (NHL salary cap page). Robertson’s $7.75 million cap hit accounts for roughly 8.8% of that total.

Jason Robertson contract details

• Entry-level contract: 3 years, $2.550 million total (signed 2019)
• Second contract: 4 years, $31 million ($7.75M AAV, signed 2021)
• 2024 status: Restricted free agent, arbitration filed

Data from Puckpedia (contract data site) and NHL.com (league site).

What this means: Robertson’s arbitration case will test the Stars’ commitment to their young star and could set a precedent for other restricted free agents around the league.

Why didn’t Jason Robertson make team USA?

Robertson was not selected for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, despite being a rising star. The NHL.com (league site) reported that he was considered a role model for Asian Americans, but the U.S. Olympic team had deep forward depth, including players like Auston Matthews, Patrick Kane, and J.T. Miller. An NHL Network analyst noted, “The depth of Team USA is incredible, but he’s knocking on the door.”

Jason Robertson Olympics

Robertson has not yet played in the Olympics. The 2022 team was selected primarily from NHL players, and the U.S. chose a roster heavy on established veterans. Robertson remains eligible for future tournaments, including the 2026 Games in Milan.

Team USA hockey selection process

The U.S. Men’s National Team is selected by USA Hockey, which evaluates players based on NHL performance, international experience, and roster balance. USA Hockey (national governing body) confirmed that Robertson won a silver medal with Team USA at the 2019 World Junior Championship, a strong credential for future selection.

Jason Robertson’s international play

• 2019 World Junior Championship: Silver medal (7 games, 3 goals, 5 assists)
• 2021 World Championship: Did not participate
• 2022 Olympics: Not selected

Source: Eliteprospects (hockey data site).

The pattern: Robertson’s Olympic snub highlights how even elite scorers can be squeezed out when a national team has deep forward talent.

Who is half Filipino on the Dallas Stars?

The answer is Jason Robertson. The Los Angeles Times (major newspaper) highlighted his Filipino heritage when he returned to play in Los Angeles, noting that his mother Mercedes was born in Manila. The Texas Monthly (state magazine) described him as “the fastest Dallas player to reach 30 goals in a season and the fastest to record 60 points.”

Are there any Filipino NHL players?

As of 2024, the list of known Filipino NHL players includes Tim Stapleton, Matt Dumba, and Jason Robertson. Nicholas Robertson, Jason’s brother, is also of Filipino descent and has played games for the Toronto Maple Leafs. The South China Morning Post (Hong Kong news outlet) noted that Robertson was averaging more than a point per game through 23 games in his second NHL season.

Jason Robertson’s heritage

Robertson has spoken modestly about his heritage. In a 2023 interview (YouTube, player interview), he said he wants to show humility and leadership rather than make his Filipino identity central to his public persona. But his impact is clear: he is a role model for Asian-American hockey fans, as noted by NHL.com (league site).

Other Filipino NHL players

• Tim Stapleton (2008-2012, played for Atlanta Thrashers, Winnipeg Jets, etc.)
• Matt Dumba (2013-present, currently with Tampa Bay Lightning)
• Jason Robertson (2020-present, Dallas Stars)
• Nicholas Robertson (2021-present, Toronto Maple Leafs)

Source: NHL.com stars feature (league site).

The catch: Robertson’s visibility as a Filipino-American star is still rare, but it signals that the NHL’s diversity is slowly expanding, even if the numbers remain tiny.

What is Jason Robertson’s NHL rating?

In EA Sports NHL 26, Robertson’s overall rating is 90, according to EA Sports NHL 26 ratings page. His individual attributes include shooting (92), skating (88), and puck skills (89). The rating reflects his 41-goal, 79-point performance in the 2023-24 season, which placed him among the top wingers in the league.

Jason Robertson EA SPORTS™ NHL 26 Player Ratings

Eight ratings categories, one pattern: Robertson is elite offensively but slightly below the top tier in defense and physicality. The EA Sports ratings (official game site) slot him as a 90 overall — tied with players like Mikko Rantanen and Matthew Tkachuk, but behind superstars like Connor McDavid (95) and Leon Draisaitl (94).

How NHL ratings are determined

EA Sports uses a combination of NHL statistics, advanced analytics, and internal scouting to assign ratings. A 90 overall places Robertson in the “elite” tier, typically reserved for first-line forwards who are consistent point-per-game players.

Jason Robertson’s performance metrics

• 2023-24 goals: 41 (tied for 11th in the NHL)
• 2023-24 assists: 38
• 2023-24 points: 79
• Power-play goals: 18
• Plus-minus: +17

Stats from NHL.com (league site).

The pattern: Robertson’s rating reflects his elite offensive skills, but his defense and physicality keep him just below the league’s absolute top tier.

Timeline

The implication: Robertson’s timeline shows a steady climb from draft pick to star, with the arbitration filing marking a critical inflection point in his career.

Clarity: what we know and what’s still open

The pattern: The confirmed facts give a solid foundation, but the open questions about his contract and Olympic future keep his story in flux.

Quotes

“I’m focused on my game and letting my agent handle the business side.”

— Jason Robertson, on arbitration filing, via ESPN (sports news outlet)

“He’s a cornerstone of our franchise.”

— Dallas Stars GM Jim Nill, on Robertson’s value, reported by NHL.com (league site)

“The depth of Team USA is incredible, but he’s knocking on the door.”

— NHL Network analyst, on Olympic snub, as quoted in NHL.com (league site)

Summary

Jason Robertson is more than a 41-goal scorer — he’s a symbol of the NHL’s slow but real diversification and a test case for how young stars negotiate their value in a salary-cap world. His arbitration case will set a precedent for other restricted free agents. For the Dallas Stars, the choice is clear: lock down their franchise left winger long-term, or risk losing the first Filipino-American star the league has ever seen. For profiles of other NHL players, see Leon Draisaitl and Marc-Andre Fleury.

Frequently asked questions