Dallas Stars proud to give ‘anchor’ Thomas Harley extension

Dallas Stars defenseman Thomas Harley agreed to an eight-year extension with the club carrying an average annual value of $10.587 million, general manager Jim Nill announced Tuesday night.

The deal, which secures a key player on the Dallas blue line, comes with a full no-movement clause after the first three years, sources told ESPN. Harley, 24, was the No. 18 pick of the 2019 draft and debuted for the team in 2021. He currently is second among Dallas skaters in ice time, averaging 23:07 a night, trailing only Miro Heiskanen.

“We’re thrilled to lock up Thomas for the next eight years,” Nill said in a statement. “This extension is well deserved. Thomas has proven to be one of the top defensemen in our league, and his ability to step up in Heiskanen’s absence was an important part of our team maintaining its pace throughout last season. We’re looking forward to seeing him anchor our blueline alongside Miro for many years to come.”

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Harley was in the final year of a two-year, $4 million bridge deal. The sides began negotiations on a new contract a little over a month ago. Harley, who was under team control for three more restricted free agency years, was motivated to get the deal done because he wants to stay in Dallas and says he believes he can win a Stanley Cup there. The Stars have made it to the Western Conference finals in each of the past three seasons.

Harley, a native of Syracuse, New York, who is coming off a career-high 50 points last season, has one goal and eight points this season. In the Stars’ 1-0 victory over the Washington Capitals on Tuesday night, he finished with one shot on net and one block in 21 shifts covering 21:01 of ice time.

Harley, whose parents are Canadian, received the call to join Team Canada last February midway through the 4 Nations Face-Off. He was an injury replacement for Cale Makar. In the championship game in Boston, a 3-2 win over Team USA, Harley finished with an assist in 31 shifts that covered 21:56 of ice time.

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