Contract: New details emerge about Thomas Harley's massive next deal
Photo credit: The Hockey News
The Dallas Stars could be facing a significant decision with Thomas Harley's next contract, as recent discussions have raised the question of whether his new deal could exceed Miro Heiskanen's $8.45 million AAV.
On the DLLS Stars Podcast, analysts debated Harley's market value and how the team will balance its core players under the salary cap, sparking speculation about how far Dallas is willing to go.
The full discussion can be heard on the show's July 25 episode via DLLS Stars.
Could Thomas Harley's new deal surpass Miro Heiskanen's contract?
The podcast broke down the comparison by highlighting Heiskanen's current deal and how it fits against the NHL market.
«Miro is at 8.45 million for four more seasons. It looks like a real nice deal, especially when you look at Bouchard for a 10.5 AAV»
The hosts then asked the central question:
«So that is the question, do you give Harley more than Miro? Or do you say, like Robo and Rantanen, and you say: 'Look, he's our highest-paid defenseman and we're going under that.'»
They also noted Harley's current position, with a $4 million salary this year as a restricted free agent.
Because Dallas has time before Harley can reach unrestricted free agency, the length and structure of this deal could vary.
«I'm thinking Harley will start with 6.7 million. I think that's the starting point. Maybe it's only a 3-4 year deal. It won't be easy,» another host added.
Balancing this with Jason Robertson's future deal could make things tighter.
«If you gave Jason Robertson 11.5, that's a 3.75 increase from his current deal. That means that you would have less than 5 million for Harley if you assume that the cap goes up by 8.5»
Here's the full segment:
I believe Dallas will have to make some tough choices on term and cap structure if Harley's ask pushes toward the top tier of the market.
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