The Dallas Stars’ flirtation with Zach Werenski may not be dead just yet.
What looked like one of the NHL offseason’s most eye-catching near-misses involved Dallas and the Columbus Blue Jackets, with the Stars reportedly prepared to send Thomas Harley to Columbus in a deal that would have brought Werenski to Texas. The move never got across the finish line after being vetoed, but the door may still be cracked open for another try down the road.
That possibility picked up steam with comments from The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline on the DLLS Stars podcast. Portzline said Columbus could eventually be forced to make a hard call on its franchise defenseman if a new contract can’t be worked out.
"I don't see [Columbus] holding onto him for that last year if there are no guarantees of a contract," Portzline said. "You can't let that player just walk."
If Werenski and the Blue Jackets do not reach an extension, next offseason could put the defenseman back in the trade conversation. He would be entering the final year of his current contract, and his full no-move clause is set to shift into a modified no-trade clause with a 10-team no-trade list. If Dallas is not on that list, the Stars could have a path back into the discussion.
The fit is obvious on paper. Harley has become one of the NHL’s better young defensemen and remains an important part of Dallas’ future, but Werenski brings a different kind of punch. The 29-year-old just finished his second straight 80-point season after winning the Norris Trophy, and he played a major role in keeping Columbus in the playoff hunt for much of the year despite the Blue Jackets missing the postseason.
Harley missed 12 games during the 2025-26 campaign and has generally settled into the 45-to-50-point range over much of his NHL career. That production is strong for a top-pair defenseman. Werenski, though, offers something more: roughly 30 additional points over a full season, which would be a meaningful offensive boost for a Dallas team already seen as a Stanley Cup contender.
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Stars Enter Season With Two Core Pieces Still Surrounded By Doubt
The Stars head into the season with two important pieces still carrying plenty of uncertainty around them, even after the offseason noise settled down. Jason Robertson spent part of the summer in trade chatter tied to Seattle and a possible long-term extension, while Thomas Harley also found himself in the middle of rumors as Dallas tried to sort out its blue line picture.
Robertson is back for now, but only on a one-year deal, which keeps his situation very much alive as the season unfolds. Harley also stayed put after the trade-rumor swirl involving Zach Werenski faded, leaving Dallas with talent in place but no real clarity on where either player fits long term, or how long the Stars can count on the current version of the roster. [Read more 🡒]