The run of major NHL contract extensions continued this week as the Dallas Stars announced an eight-year deal with defenseman Thomas Harley worth an average annual value of $10.587 million.

Harley, 24, was drafted 18th overall by the Stars in 2019 and has quickly developed into one of the league’s most reliable young blueliners. In 206 career regular-season games, he has recorded 111 points and a plus-58 rating while averaging over 21 minutes of ice time. A steady skater with size and strong puck movement, Harley is viewed as a cornerstone piece of Dallas’s defense for years to come.

General manager Jim Nill has made it a priority to lock in his young core, and this deal adds to that growing list. In the past year, the Stars have secured Mikko Rantanen, Wyatt Johnston, Roope Hintz, Esa Lindell, and Miro Heiskanen on long-term contracts. Dallas has reached the Western Conference Final in three straight seasons and continues to build around a deep and balanced roster.

Harley has started this season with eight points in nine games, helping the Stars rebound from a slow start to sit at 5-3-1. The extension also brings attention to the next challenge for Nill: finding a way to keep winger Jason Robertson, who is entering the final year of his current deal.

Former NHL goaltender Carter Hutton praised the move on Daily Faceoff Live, saying, “When you look at their back end with Lindell, Heiskanen, Harley, and Oettinger in net, that’s a defensive core built to compete every single year.”

The Utah Mammoth made headlines of their own by signing forward Logan Cooley to an eight-year, $10 million annual contract extension. Cooley, 21, has emerged as the face of Utah’s franchise after a breakout 65-point season last year and is off to a strong start in 2025-26 with eight goals and 12 points in 11 games.

A third-overall pick in 2022, Cooley has established himself as one of the NHL’s top young forwards. He leads all players from his draft class in scoring with 121 career points, and his playmaking and skating have quickly made him a star in Utah’s lineup.

With both Dallas and Utah securing their young talent, the future looks bright for two teams aiming to stay near the top of their conferences for years to come.