(Frisco) The Dallas Stars signed defensemen Esa Lindell and Thomas Harley to new contracts on Tuesday.
Lindell signed a five-year, $26.25 million extension, while Harley, a restricted free agent, agreed to a two-year, $8 million deal.
Lindell will be in the final year of his current six-year, $34.8 million deal this season and could have become an unrestricted free agent next summer. Instead, he agreed to a new deal that will pay him an average of $5.25 million per season.
Last season, his 26 points, including five goals, were his best offensive output since his 32 points in 2018-19. He also led the Stars with 162 blocked shots, playing an average of 20:28 per game.
He helped the Stars reach the Western Conference final.
Esa provides a solid presence on our blue line and has become a trusted player in all situations. He has proven himself on the penalty kill and is accumulating minutes in difficult defensive assignments.
Jim Nill, Stars general manager
Lindell, 30, has played in all 164 regular-season games for the Stars over the past two seasons. He has 49 goals and 191 points in 604 National Hockey League games, all with the Stars.
Harley, for his part, broke out last season, scoring 15 goals in his first full campaign with the Stars. The 23-year-old rearguard totaled 47 points and scored three times in overtime.
“Thomas is one of the best young defensemen in the league,” Nill said. “His performance last season was a result of working hard, both on and off the ice, to become a better player.”
Stars camp will begin on Thursday.