Dallas Stars’ Thomas Harley day-to-day with injury

Credit: © Jerome Miron

Dallas Stars head coach Pete DeBoer announced that defenseman Thomas Harley will be day-to-day with an injury.

Thomas Harley is not in concussion protocol. Will not play tonight. “Day-to-day” from Pete DeBoer. #TexasHockey

— Brien Rea (@BrienRea) November 14, 2023

Harley, 22, suffered the injury late in the second period of Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Wild when Brandon Duhaime checked Harley into the boards. Duhaime got a five-minute major penalty and a misconduct for the infraction, and the Stars scored twice on the ensuing power play, with both goals coming from Jason Robertson. Harley had just a shot on net in 11:19 of ice time before leaving as the Stars went on to win the game 8-3.

DeBoer also mentioned that Harley was not in concussion protocol, so the injury likely isn’t head-related. He doesn’t have a specific timeline for return, but it sounds like it will be a short-term injury and Harley will only miss a couple games.

Harley has been off to a solid start this season with the Stars after finally getting a consistent role on their power play. He has three goals and two assists for five points in 14 games, building off the momentum of a strong playoff run last season where he had a goal and eight assists for nine points in 19 games.

Harley has also been a very disciplined player since his regular season debut in 2021 with just five minor penalties in 54 games, which is tied for second among defensemen in that span with at least 50 games played.

Harley was the 18th overall pick of the Stars in the 2019 NHL Draft, and has spent all five of his pro seasons with the Stars organization. He’s currently in the final year of his entry-level contract, and is set to become a restricted free agent in the summer.

With Harley out, Joel Hanley will sub into the lineup for the Stars alongside Jani Hakanpaa, a paring that has a 100% expected goal share in 1:12 of ice time together. Hanley has played just one game this season for the Stars, with no points in that game.