The Dallas Stars have one of the NHL’s top rosters, boasting standouts at multiple key positions.
According to NHL Network, Dallas has two of the league’s top 20 defensemen. Miro Heiskanen and Thomas Harley earned that distinction, earning spots in a list compiled by NHL Network producers and analysts.
Harley was ranked 14th on the list, sitting one spot ahead of Vegas’ Shea Theodore. Harley earned praise for his 50-point output during the 2024-25 regular season and his ability to step up when Heiskanen underwent knee surgery in February.
NHL Network emphasized a few of Harley’s key stats, including his 110 blocks. That figure was good enough for third on Dallas’ roster last season.
Meanwhile, Heiskanen was ranked at No. 4 on the list. Despite missing part of the campaign with a knee injury, Heiskanen elevated Dallas when he returned in the postseason. Heiskanen appeared in 50 games during the regular season, posting 25 points (five goals, 20 assists).
The only players who ranked above Heiskanen were Columbus’ Zach Werenski, Vancouver’s Quinn Hughes and Colorado’s Cale Makar.
Throughout the offseason, NHL Network will reveal its rankings of the league’s top players. Last week, Dallas’ Jason Robertson and Mikko Rantanen made the cut among the NHL’s top 20 wings.
Read what NHL Network had to say about Harley and Heiskanen below:
Thomas Harley
“Harley proved that his first season in the NHL was no fluke. After having 47 points (15 goals, 32 assists) and a plus-28 rating in 79 games with Dallas in 2023-24, he put up 50 points (16 goals, 34 assists) in 78 games and a plus-32 rating last season. The 23-year-old also averaged 23:23 of ice time per game, stepping up in the absence of Miro Heiskanen, and had 110 blocks, third on the team. He also had 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) in 18 playoff games.”
Miro Heiskanen
“Heiskanen led the Stars in ice time per game (25:10) although his season was limited due to an injury; he did not play in the regular season after Jan. 28 and did not return until the second round of the playoffs. The 26-year-old had 25 points (five goals, 20 assists) in 50 regular-season games and is two seasons removed from a career-best 73 points (11 goals, 62 assists) in 79 games. He has helped Dallas advance to the conference final each of the past three seasons and had 26 points in 27 games in the 2020 playoffs, the sixth-highest total by a defenseman in a single postseason.”
