Esa Lindell

Esa Lindell
Lindell in 2014
Born (1994-05-23) 23 May 1994 (age 31)
Helsinki, Finland
Height6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight217 lb (98 kg; 15 st 7 lb)
PositionDefence
ShootsLeft
NHL team
Former teams
Dallas Stars
Jokerit
Ässät
National team Finland
NHL draft74th overall, 2012
Dallas Stars
Playing career2012–present

Esa Lindell (born 23 May 1994) is a Finnish professional ice hockey player who is a 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 19 September 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 seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
2010–11JokeritFIN U181457121040114
2010–11JokeritJr. A31122
2011–12JokeritJr. A4821305116112576
2011–12Kiekko–VantaaMestis20000
2012–13JokeritJr. A115496112576
2012–13JokeritSM-l190004
2012–13Kiekko–VantaaMestis22461016
2013–14JokeritSM-l442351020000
2013–14Kiekko–VantaaMestis112358
2014–15ÄssätSM-l5714213528
2014–15Texas StarsAHL50112
2015–16Texas StarsAHL731428425642240
2015–16Dallas StarsNHL40000
2016–17Dallas StarsNHL736121822
2016–17Texas StarsAHL20110
2017–18Dallas StarsNHL807202724
2018–19Dallas StarsNHL8211213233131344
2019–20Dallas StarsNHL693202312271782
2020–21Dallas StarsNHL565111619
2021–22Dallas StarsNHL76421251270220
2022–23Dallas StarsNHL828162410190338
2023–24Dallas StarsNHL825212612193254
2024–25Dallas StarsNHL805212614181124
Liiga totals1201624404220000
NHL totals684541632171581036182422
Medal record
Representing  Finland
Ice hockey
World Championships
Gold medal – first place2022 Finland
Silver medal – second place2016 Russia
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place2014 Sweden

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2011FinlandIH184th510114
2012FinlandU184th70662
2014FinlandWJC1st place, gold medalist(s)72356
2015FinlandWC6th81560
2016FinlandWC2nd place, silver medalist(s)101340
2016FinlandWCH8th10000
2022FinlandWC1st place, gold medalist(s)60112
2025Finland4NF4th31010
Junior totals19391222
Senior totals2839122

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.
  • Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database
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