Dallas Stars Recall Thomas Harley

(Credit: Texas Stars)

The Dallas Stars recalled defenseman Thomas Harley from the Texas Stars this morning. 

This initially looked like a reaction to Jani Hakanpää’s entrance into COVID-19 protocol, but Hakanpää returned to practice for Dallas today, which means he has cleared protocol. Even with Hakanpää cleared, Dallas has added Harley to their active roster before embarking on a three-game road trip in Canada. Harley has appeared in one game for Dallas since being drafted by the Stars in the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft. The game Harley appeared in was a postseason game against the Colorado Avalanche in 2020 and Harley spent 10:58 on the ice.

This season with the Texas Stars, Harley is one of three defenseman to play in all six games. Harley has only recorded a single point (an assist in the first win of the season for Texas against Iowa), but he has been an integral part of the Texas defensive crew with linemate Alex Petrovic.

With a new spot in the lineup open on defense for the next few games, it will be intriguing to see how Texas Stars head coach Neil Graham sets up the pairings. So far this season, Ben Gleason and Ryan Shea have been part of a rotation that has seen them alternate games in series against Iowa and Rockford. With Harley being recalled by Dallas, Gleason and Shea will likely find themselves consistently in the lineup for Texas this week.

Here is the official press release:

Dallas Stars General Manager Jim Nill announced today the team has recalled defenseman Thomas Harley from the Texas Stars, Dallas’ top development affiliate in the American Hockey League (AHL).

Harley, 20, has recorded one assist (0-1=1) and nine shots on goal in six AHL games played with Texas so far in 2021-22. The blueliner has earned 26 points (8-18=26) in 44 career regular-season AHL games. Harley has also skated in one career NHL postseason game, logging one hit and one blocked shot in 10:58 of ice time in Round Robin Game 2 of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs against Colorado.

The 6-foot-3, 205-pound native of Syracuse, N.Y. was originally selected by Dallas in the first round (18th overall) of the 2019 NHL Draft.