‘It is what it is’: Stars’ Jason Robertson on not making U.S. Olympic team

Jason Robertson isn’t allowing his exclusion from the U.S. Olympic men’s roster to get him down.

The Dallas Stars’ forward was asked by reporters Saturday about this week’s news regarding the American roster announcement. He said “there wasn’t much” of a conversation with USA Hockey brass when he was told he didn’t make it.

“It is what it is,” Robertson said, according to Robert Tiffin, who writes for StarsThoughts.com. He was also asked whether he’s on the reserve list in case of injury.

“I don’t know.”

Robertson has 24 goals and 24 assists for 48 points in 41 games with the Stars this season. He is currently tied for fourth in the NHL in goals and tied for eighth in points. In 2025-26, Robertson has the second-most goals among U.S. skaters and the most points.

He is on pace for his third 40-goal season and his fifth campaign of 79 points or more.

“I thought that this year was different from last year,” he said. “Obviously last year, I didn’t think I was good enough. Now, I think I did. It’s their choice and their decision, and that’s it.”

Robertson, 26, told Tiffin and other media that missing the 4 Nations Face-Off in 2025 was a form of motivation. However, not being named to this year’s U.S. roster was disappointing.

“I mean, obviously it hurts your ego, but I’m not going to change the way I play,” he said. “I’m happy to keep doing what I do.”

The 6-foot-3 winger said regardless of what USA Hockey management decided, he’s going to “strive to be the best at whatever I can be.”

“It just so happened that this year was the Olympic year, and that’s not gonna stop me from doing that the rest of the season,” he said. “I love the game. I just keep playing, and that’s the beauty of it.”

Now in his sixth full NHL season, Robertson, a 2017 second-round pick, has 192 goals and 250 assists for 442 points in 415 regular-season games. He also has 18 goals and 26 assists for 44 points in 56 Stanley Cup Playoff games.