When Miro Heiskanen missed 30 games last season, the Dallas Stars needed someone to step into a massive void on their blue line. That someone was Thomas Harley - and he didn’t just step in, he leveled up.
Fast forward to this past week, and with Heiskanen out again - this time for personal reasons - Harley was once more thrust into the spotlight. And while it was only a two-game stretch, it served as a sharp reminder of just how far he’s come.
“It’s confidence,” Stars head coach Glen Gulutzan said. “You get into those games and you don’t think as much - you just play. And I think that helps your confidence.”
That’s been the story with Harley. When Heiskanen went down late last January and didn’t return until the Second Round of the playoffs, Harley was asked to do more than just fill in.
He had to anchor the defense. For a guy who was in the AHL not long before and still trying to find his spot in a crowded Stars blue line rotation, it was a trial by fire.
His ice time jumped by three minutes a night. He took on penalty kill responsibilities.
He was handed the keys to the top power play unit. That’s a heavy lift for any defenseman, let alone a 24-year-old still finding his NHL legs.
But Harley didn’t just survive - he thrived. He earned a late call-up to Team Canada for the 4 Nations Face-Off and helped bring home gold. He logged over 27 minutes a night in a grueling seven-game series win over Colorado, chipping in five points (two goals, three assists) along the way.
“You just want to play hockey,” Harley said. “So any chance to play more or in a bigger situation - that’s a good thing.”
That stretch helped pave the way for a major commitment from the Stars: an eight-year contract extension set to kick in next season, carrying an average annual value of $10.587 million. It’s a big vote of confidence - and a big spotlight.
Harley, a former first-round pick, has taken a major step forward. But now comes the next challenge: living up to it.
This season hasn’t been smooth sailing. Harley missed nearly a month with a lower-body injury, and now he’s juggling the expectations that come with a massive contract, a key role on the Stars’ blue line, and a spot on the Canadian Olympic Team. That’s a lot on one plate.
Still, the last two seasons have shown what Harley is capable of when given the opportunity. And even in back-to-back losses this week, with Heiskanen out, Harley reminded everyone of just how much he can handle. He logged nearly 30 minutes a night, quarterbacked the first power play unit, and was on the ice for over three minutes during a 6-on-5 push late in Thursday’s 2-1 loss to Utah.
“What I see from Harls, which is good for any player, is how many puck touches he’s getting,” said Gulutzan. “I thought our power play looked dangerous. And all those touches 6-on-5 - that always helps a player like that.”
Harley felt it too.
“It was nice to have some increased minutes in power play and PK, and everything that comes along with it,” he said. “I wish I did a little bit more with it, but hopefully I can use that for the rest of the season.”
With Heiskanen expected back on Sunday against Tampa Bay, Harley will likely slide back into his usual role. But Gulutzan now has some decisions to make.
Does he reunite Harley and Heiskanen as a top pair? Or does he spread the wealth and pair Harley with a more offensive-minded partner like Nils Lundkvist?
There’s no wrong answer - just options, and that’s a good problem to have.
What’s clear is that Harley has become a cornerstone piece in Dallas' quest for a Stanley Cup. He’s no longer just a promising young defenseman - he’s a key figure in how far this team can go.
“It’s hard to win in this league,” Harley said. “So you just have to keep working and grinding. You have to do it every single day.”
And if the past year is any indication, Harley’s doing exactly that - one shift at a time.