Robertson discusses Stars teammates, Kaprizov in Q&A with NHL.com

NHL.com's Q&A feature called "Sitting Down With …" runs each Sunday. We talk to key figures in the game, gaining insight into their lives on and off the ice.
This edition features Dallas Stars forward Jason Robertson.

The start of Jason Robertson's season was delayed by injury, but the Dallas Stars forward has made an impact since his return, scoring six points (one goal, five assists) in seven games for Dallas (5-6-2).
The 22-year-old left wing missed the first six games of the season with an upper-body injury but returned Oct. 27 against the Vegas Golden Knights and has picked up where he left off from last season, when he made a surprising run at the Calder Trophy voted for NHL rookie of the year scoring 45 points (17 goals, 28 assists) in 51 games.
Minnesota Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov won the award, scoring 51 points (27 goals, 24 assists) in 55 games.
Last season was a roller-coaster ride for Robertson. He was sent to Texas of the American Hockey League after training camp and then was on Jan. 22. After being held without a point in the first three games, he began scoring and earning more ice time. His 16:53 average ice time per game was second to Kaprizov (18:18) among all NHL rookie forwards. Dallas, which lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2020 Stanley Cup Final, missed the playoffs, finishing four points behind the Nashville Predators for the fourth and final spot in the eight-team Discover Central Division.
NHL.com caught up with Robertson before the start of the season to ask him about a variety of topics, including opinions on several teammates, the dreaded sophomore slump, the best advice he's received and would give to others, and his hidden talent.
Looking back, what was your rookie season experience like?
"Definitely a different experience than anything I've ever done. I was on the [AHL] squad for a few weeks and that inspired me to get better and get on the ice and keep working and keep grinding at it, so when I hit my stride, I just took off. My confidence level just went up knowing how much time I had to make plays, so it was a great year and I'm looking to build off it."
What would you say to rookies breaking into the NHL this season?
"Just play with confidence. When something doesn't go your way, obviously your confidence goes down and that's natural, right? But the only way you can get it back is to start to feel more confident and don't let that try to bring you down. It's all mental, really, because they know what you can do on the ice. The majority of it's just all mental."
What was the Calder Trophy race with Kirill Kaprizov like?
"It was exciting, but I'll tell you what else was exciting, the intensity of the games we played and how much and critical those points were. At the end of the season, two points meant a big jump in the playoffs, so those games were really important. I think for me, just developing the kind of playoff mentality, how important these games were, how tight checking, how limited the scoring chances are. It was a good learning experience. As far as the Calder stuff, it was cool but missing the playoffs was obviously disheartening."
Any concerns about a sophomore slump?
"I'm just going about my business. It doesn't matter what happened with other people, it's none of my business. All that matters is playing my game and performing. What happened with other people has no correlation to what I do."
You've played on a line with Roope Hintz last year. What makes him such a good player?
"He drives the whole line, he's so quick, so explosive up and down the middle of the ice. It's a pleasure having someone on my line that you can trust to get up and join you, you may see him far back but he's going to get on his horse and try to get up the ice. I like to put pucks into different areas where they can skate into it so it's great having him out there."
You are getting a healthy Tyler Seguin back this season. What does that mean for the Stars?
"Last year we didn't have trouble scoring goals, but we could always score more goals. [Seguin] coming back to shootouts, I think we lost seven shootouts, so we could use the help there and overtimes. Big face-offs, he does everything, so it's definitely great to have him back."
What about Miro Heiskanen? What makes him an elite defenseman in your opinion?
"I think he just takes over the game, he moves the puck well, he breaks pucks out, he's just a player you could rely on in the [2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs]. I think he led the team in points, he was just outstanding. You could just tell because he was firing up and down the ice, he's just all the time, his motor never stops. It was great for Dallas, and we're looking for more of that this year."
Who was somebody in hockey you were nervous to meet?
"Probably when I got drafted to Dallas, Jamie Benn, Seguin because you just got drafted and you're like, 'Wow, these guys are like awesome, they're the best players, and now they're your teammates'."
Of your current teammates, which player should be the first to have his number retired?
"Jamie Benn's been there for 10-plus years; he's the captain, the leader, brought us to the Cup Final. Won the Art Ross, he's done everything for this organization so definitely [No.] 14."
Who is the veteran player with the Stars that has had the biggest influence on you?
"Probably [Joe Pavelski] because we were linemates and he would tell me stuff and just always be someone I could talk to."
What matchup brings out the best in you?
"Tampa [Bay Lightning]. Playing Tampa every time, that's the matchup I want to play."
Do you change anything when in your in a slump?
"No, I never change anything because I think it just psyches yourself out. Just play hockey."
What's something most people don't know about you?
"I'm a big FIFA [soccer video game] player; borderline ESports player. Borderline."
Best advice you've gotten?
"Be confident. My dad."