Jim Nill Addresses Thomas Harley Trade Rumors

DALLAS — Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill said Thursday that he got hold of Thomas Harley as soon as Harley’s name surfaced in trade talk this summer, and that the two will sit down again once Harley returns to Dallas. Nill made the comments in an interview on NHL Network.

Nill and Harley were together on Canada’s Olympic team in February.

“That’s where I think it’s important, every relationship. Unfortunately in today’s world, names are going to get out there, right or wrong,” Nill said. “I feel for the players. We’ve all been there and you don’t like to hear that, and these guys are a big part of your team.”

“So that situation, as soon as that name got out there and there was no trade, I made sure I got hold of Thomas,” Nill continued. “And we walked through it, talked through it. And when he gets back to Dallas, he will sit down again. But he’s a big part of our team. I was with him with the Olympic team also. So we have a good relationship. And you just want to make sure that those situations are taken care of sooner than later.”

The Zach Werenski Trade That Fell Through

On July 1, ESPN reported that Columbus defenseman Zach Werenski vetoed a trade to Dallas by using the full no-movement clause in his contract, and that the Stars and Blue Jackets had agreed in principle on that trade earlier in the week.

Multiple reports identified Harley as the centerpiece of the deal. Werenski remains with Columbus. He won the Norris Trophy last season and has led Columbus in scoring with more than 80 points in each of the past two seasons, ESPN reported.

Thomas Harley’s Contract And 2025-26 Season

Harley signed an eight-year, $84.696 million contract on Oct. 28, 2025. The deal begins this season and runs through 2033-34 at an average annual value of $10.587 million, which replaced the $4 million he made last season.

Last season Harley had 6 goals, 30 assists, and 36 points in 70 games and averaged 23:03 of ice time. He had no points in six playoff games against Minnesota and averaged 24:15. In 2024-25 he had 16 goals, 34 assists, and 50 points in 78 games. The Stars drafted him 18th overall in 2019.

Jim Nill And Thomas Harley With Team Canada

Nill was one of three assistant general managers on Canada’s staff for the Milano Cortina Games, along with Julien BriseBois and Don Sweeney, under general manager Doug Armstrong. Harley was one of eight defensemen on the 25-player roster, and the group was the same one that played for Canada at the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off, where Harley stepped in after Shea Theodore was hurt in the tournament opener. Nill was an assistant general manager for that team as well.

Dallas kept its defense largely intact around Harley and Miro Heiskanen this summer. Ilya Lyubushkin was traded to the Nashville Predators on July 1, and Alexander Petrovic signed a two-year contract with the Florida Panthers the same day. Pro Hockey Rumors, working from PuckPedia figures, listed Dallas last month at $105,360,333 in cap charges against the $104 million upper limit, or $1,360,333 over the ceiling.

Dallas went 50-20-12 for 112 points last season and finished second in the Central Division. The Minnesota Wild eliminated the Stars in six games in the first round.

Dallas opens training camp Sept. 17 at Comerica Center in Frisco. The Stars host the St. Louis Blues in the regular-season opener on Oct. 2 at American Airlines Center, with puck drop at 8 p.m. CT on TNT.