The Dallas Stars announced that they have extended restricted free agent defenseman Thomas Harley to an eight-year, $87 million contract with an AAV of $10.5875 million.
In addition to the salary increase from his current AAV from $4 million to $10.5875 million, it will be an upfront contract with him making $13 million next season.
Harley will make $13 million next season under a contract with the Stars. Dallas closed the gap in discussions this morning. 8 years. $10.5872 average. https://t.co/DhvoNFSq1w
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) October 28, 2025
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Harley was an RFA with arbitration rights this summer. So the Stars are buying three years of RFA years because he won’t have trade protection the year he would have been a UFA.
Thomas Harley’s extension with Dallas is still being finalized, but it will be for 8 years, just under $10.6 million AAV.
This buys you 3 RFA years. Believe there is a full clause that he is not allowed to exercise if he gets older than 1-3 years. Big picture: Harley believes he can win in Dallas and wanted to stay.
— Emily Kaplan (@emilimkaplan) October 28, 2025
While Harley doesn’t have the same status as RFA Luke Hughes in New Jersey, he has a similar status to Jackson Lacombe in Anaheim. And thanks to Hughes and Lacombe receiving $9 million per season for their recent extensions, Harley’s numbers only went up.
In recent seasons, Thomas Harley emerged as a defender for the Dallas Stars, alongside Miro Heiskanen. Last season with the Stars, Harley set career highs with 50 points (16 goals, 34 assists) in 78 games, while averaging 23 minutes per game.
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Heiskanen missed most of last season due to injury, expanding Harley’s role. During the 23-24 season, Harley recorded 47 points (15 goals, 32 assists) in 79 games, averaging 21 minutes per game. Harley is not only involved in all aspects of the Stars game offensively, but has also improved tremendously defensively over the years.
Thomas Harley, signed to an 8x$10.6 million extension by DAL, is a number one defenseman with elite mobility, great puck skills and a desire to be involved in absolutely everything. Likes to join the rush, has a wicked shot and is also decent defensively. #TexasHockey pic.twitter.com/VwvVij8z2O
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) October 28, 2025
In addition to his success with the Dallas Stars, Thomas Harley played for Team Canada at the Four Nations Faceoff. Who could forget him during Team USA and Canada’s first game on that fun Saturday night at the Bell Centre. He couldn’t practice because there was uncertainty surrounding Cale Makar. But Harley adapted and was Canada’s best defenseman in that game and the second-best defenseman of the tournament.
Harley will again be part of the team for Canada at the Olympic Games in February. Now the Dallas Stars turn their attention to Jason Robertson. The Stars want to keep Robertson, but it’s just a matter of how much of a long-term deal.
? Nightcap summary?
Thomas Harley gets paid by the Dallas Stars?
What does that mean for Jason Robertson? #texashockey pic.twitter.com/LkwyHYe90n
— Jim Biringer (@JimBiringer) October 28, 2025
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