Esa Lindell

Esa Lindell
Lindell in 2014
Born (1994-05-23) 23 May 1994 (age 30)
Helsinki, Finland
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 207 lb (94 kg; 14 st 11 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams		 Dallas Stars
Jokerit
Ässät
National team  Finland
NHL draft 74th overall, 2012
Dallas Stars
Playing career 2012–present

Esa Lindell (born 23 May 1994) is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman and alternate captain for the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Stars in the third round, 74th overall, of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

Lindell made his SM-liiga debut playing with Jokerit during the 2012–13 season.[1] On 7 May 2014, he signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Dallas Stars, the organization that had drafted him in the third round, 74th overall, of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.[2]

Lindell was reassigned to the Liiga for the 2014–15 season, joining Ässät. He established a career-high year, registering 14 goals and 35 points in 57 games with the club, which led all Liiga defencemen in scoring, before on 16 March 2015 he was assigned by Dallas to the organization's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Texas Stars.

On 18 January 2016, Lindell received his first NHL call-up.[3] He made his debut the following day on 19 January in Dallas' game against the Los Angeles Kings. On 25 November, in his 17th career NHL game, Lindell scored his first NHL goal, coming in a 2–1 win against the Vancouver Canucks.[4]

In June 2017, Lindell signed a two-year, $4.4 million contract extension with Dallas worth an annual salary cap hit of $2.2 million.[5][6]

On 16 May 2019, Lindell signed a six-year, $34.8 million contract extension with the Stars, carrying an annual cap hit of $5.8 million.[7]

In February 2020, Lindell was made an alternate captain along with teammate Blake Comeau. Lindell and Tyler Seguin served as alternate captains during home games, while Comeau and John Klingberg served as alternate captains during road games.[8]

On September 19, 2024, Lindell signed a five-year, $26.25 million extension with the Stars, carrying an annual cap hit of $5.25 million.[9]

Personal life

Lindell joined the ownership group of Jokerit Helsinki in 2023, following the club's departure from the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) in 2022 and the subsequent restructuring of its operating company. The group includes Jokerit ry and a number of players with ties to the team, including Ossi Väänänen and Teuvo Teräväinen, among others.[10]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2010–11 Jokerit FIN U18 14 5 7 12 10 4 0 1 1 4
2010–11 Jokerit Jr. A — — — — — 3 1 1 2 2
2011–12 Jokerit Jr. A 48 21 30 51 16 11 2 5 7 6
2011–12 Kiekko–Vantaa Mestis 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2012–13 Jokerit Jr. A 11 5 4 9 6 11 2 5 7 6
2012–13 Jokerit SM-l 19 0 0 0 4 — — — — —
2012–13 Kiekko–Vantaa Mestis 22 4 6 10 16 — — — — —
2013–14 Jokerit SM-l 44 2 3 5 10 2 0 0 0 0
2013–14 Kiekko–Vantaa Mestis 11 2 3 5 8 — — — — —
2014–15 Ässät SM-l 57 14 21 35 28 — — — — —
2014–15 Texas Stars AHL 5 0 1 1 2 — — — — —
2015–16 Texas Stars AHL 73 14 28 42 56 4 2 2 4 0
2015–16 Dallas Stars NHL 4 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2016–17 Dallas Stars NHL 73 6 12 18 22 — — — — —
2016–17 Texas Stars AHL 2 0 1 1 0 — — — — —
2017–18 Dallas Stars NHL 80 7 20 27 24 — — — — —
2018–19 Dallas Stars NHL 82 11 21 32 33 13 1 3 4 4
2019–20 Dallas Stars NHL 69 3 20 23 12 27 1 7 8 2
2020–21 Dallas Stars NHL 56 5 11 16 19 — — — — —
2021–22 Dallas Stars NHL 76 4 21 25 12 7 0 2 2 0
2022–23 Dallas Stars NHL 82 8 16 24 10 19 0 3 3 8
2023–24 Dallas Stars NHL 82 5 21 26 12 19 3 2 5 4
Liiga totals 120 16 24 40 42 2 0 0 0 0
NHL totals 604 49 142 191 144 85 5 17 22 18
Medal record
Representing  Finland
Ice hockey
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2022 Finland
Silver medal – second place 2016 Russia
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 2014 Sweden

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2011 Finland IH18 4th 5 1 0 1 14
2012 Finland U18 4th 7 0 6 6 2
2014 Finland WJC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 7 2 3 5 6
2015 Finland WC 6th 8 1 5 6 0
2016 Finland WC 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 10 1 3 4 0
2016 Finland WCH 8th 1 0 0 0 0
2022 Finland WC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 6 0 1 1 2
Junior totals 19 3 9 12 22
Senior totals 25 2 9 11 2

References

  1. ^ "2012–13 Jokerit player statistics". Eliteprospects.com. 4 May 2013. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
  2. ^ "Stars sign defenseman Esa Lindell to entry-level contract". Dallas Stars. 7 May 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  3. ^ "Dallas Stars recall Esa Lindell". Dallas Stars. 18 January 2016. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  4. ^ "Esa Lindell scores first NHL goal in Stars win". NHL.com. 26 November 2016.
  5. ^ "Stars Sign Esa Lindell To New Contract". Defending Big D. 26 June 2017.
  6. ^ "Stars sign Esa Lindell to two-year contract extension". Dallas News. 26 June 2017.
  7. ^ "Stars sign defensemen Esa Lindell to 6-year contract extension". NHL.com. 16 May 2019. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  8. ^ "Stars begin the road trip with comeback overtime win against the Devils". 2 February 2020.
  9. ^ "Lindell signs 5-year, $26.25 million contract with Stars". NHL.com. 17 September 2024. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  10. ^ Lehtisaari, Matti; Sipilä, Antti-Jussi (23 February 2023). "Esa Lindell kommentoi Jokerit-omistustaan: "Ilman muuta hieno homma" – Mikko Rantasen terävät sanat yllättivät Dallas-pakin". Yle Urheilu (in Finnish). Retrieved 24 February 2023.