The Dallas Stars are still working on a contract with Thomas Harley.
General manager Jim Nill isn’t worried about the negotiations dragging into August. He told Lia Assimakopoulos of The Dallas Morning News that he believes talks will pick up soon and Harley will re-sign. “We’re having healthy communication. We’re having talks… We’re going to get him signed. I’m not too concerned,” Nill said.
Harley is set to sign his first major NHL contract after proving himself during his entry-level deal. Drafted 18th overall in 2019, he made an unexpected NHL debut during the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs after joining Dallas’ taxi squad post-Mississauga Steelheads season .
Harley’s Journey:
Though he didn’t score in his debut, Harley impressed against the Colorado Avalanche’s high-speed offense. Over the next three seasons, he played mostly with the AHL’s Texas Stars but had two extended recalls in 2022, marking his rookie NHL season with one goal and four points in 34 games.
Dallas was patient with Harley’s growth, keeping him in the minors for 131 games despite his promising performance of 70 points. This patience paid off as Harley shined in his first full NHL season this year, scoring 47 points in 79 games—just seven behind Miro Heiskanen, who led Stars defensemen in scoring. His 15 goals were also the most by a Stars defender since Trevor Daley in 2015, all while averaging 21 minutes on ice per game.
Fans might think it’s exciting to see how much potential Harley has shown already!
Contract Talks:
Harley’s breakout performance makes extending him tricky. Entering this season with only six points from 40 NHL games, he now ranks among young stars like Noah Dobson and Zach Werenski for U23 scoring defenders. Both Dobson and Faulk secured bridge deals around $5M after their big years but had more NHL experience than Harley does now.
The limited number of NHL games could keep Harley from hitting that $5M mark immediately; however, a bridge deal could provide a chance to prove himself further next season. It’s clear he’s poised for a long career given his strong role behind Heiskanen.
Dallas needs to determine how much they value their young star soon because when (not if) he re-signs, he’ll be part of a promising lineup that looks set to be competitive for many years ahead.
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