Just two days before the Dallas Stars open their 2024 Training Camp, GM Jim Nill ensured their defense core was locked in.

Hours after the team announced they had extended Esa Lindell, Nill took care of a player that Stars fans had been waiting on him to resign.

The Stars announced they had resigned young defenseman Thomas Harley to a two-year $8 million contract.

Harley will now be under contract through the 2025/2026 season in a deal with an AAV of $4 million.

“Thomas is one of the league’s top young defensemen,” Nill said. “His performance last season was a testament to the way that he has worked on and off the ice to become a better player.

“We are looking forward to his continued growth and helping anchor our blueline for many years to come.”

Back in July, the Stars offered Harley the qualifying offer which he rejected to work towards a new contract negotiated by agent Andy Scott who also helped Leon Draisaitl land his record-breaking eight-year, $112 million deal.

Dallas drafted Harley with the 18th overall pick back in the 2019 NHL draft and the big left-shot defenseman has been the Stars’ number one prospect sense.

2023/2024 saw Harley’s breakout season in which he led Stars’ defenseman with 15 goals and ranked 2nd in assists with 32. Harley led all NHL defensemen with three overtime goals and led the Stars in +/- at +28.

For the majority of the season, Harley played on the top pair alongside Miro Heiskanen a role he is expected to pick back up this season as it seems Dallas has finally found a partner for their superstar D man.

In 2024/2024, Harley will join a refurbished Stars D core which includes the additions of Matt Dumba, Ilya Lyubushkin, Brendan Smith, and others.

The Stars enter the season with lofty expectations after reaching the Western Conference final in each of the last two seasons.

Dallas opens the preseason this Saturday against the Blues at the American Airlines Center before beginning their season on the road in Nashville on October 10th.