A vetoed blockbuster trade for a Norris Trophy winner nearly shook the league. Now, expiring contracts and shifting trade clauses could reignite Dallas’s pursuit of a game-changing blueliner.
One of the most intriguing stories of the NHL offseason was the trade that almost happened between the Dallas Stars and the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The proposed blockbuster would have seen Dallas send standout defenseman Thomas Harley to Columbus in exchange for reigning Norris Trophy winner Zach Werenski. While the deal ultimately fell through after being vetoed, recent comments suggest the possibility of a future trade may not be completely off the table.
Speaking on the DLLS Stars podcast, The Athletic's Aaron Portzline addressed Werenski's long-term future in Columbus, indicating that the Blue Jackets may eventually have to consider moving their franchise defenseman if a contract extension cannot be reached.
"I don't see [Columbus] holding onto him for that last year if there are no guarantees of a contract," Portzline said. "You can't let that player just walk."
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Those comments could provide hope for the Stars if they remain interested in acquiring the 29-year-old blueliner. Should Werenski and the Blue Jackets fail to agree on an extension, Columbus could once again explore the trade market next offseason as the defenseman enters the final year of his current contract.
At that point, Werenski's full no-move clause is scheduled to convert into a modified no-trade clause featuring a 10-team no-trade list. If Dallas is not among those teams, it could pave the way for renewed discussions between the two clubs.
Harley has developed into one of the NHL's better young defensemen and remains a key piece of the Stars' future. However, Werenski has established himself as one of hockey's premier offensive defensemen and is coming off his second consecutive 80-point campaign after capturing the Norris Trophy.
Despite Columbus missing the postseason, Werenski played a major role in keeping the Blue Jackets in the playoff race throughout much of the season. Harley, meanwhile, missed 12 games during the 2025-26 campaign and has generally produced in the 45-to-50-point range for much of his NHL career.
While those numbers are impressive for a top-pair defenseman, Werenski's ability to consistently add roughly 30 more points over a full season would represent a significant offensive upgrade for a Dallas team already viewed as a Stanley Cup contender.
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