Esa Lindell

Last updated

Esa Lindell
Esa Lindell 2014.jpg
Lindell in 2014
Born (1994-05-23) 23 May 1994 (age 31)
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 teamFlag of Finland.svg  Finland
NHL draft 74th overall, 2012
Dallas Stars
Playing career 2012present

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.

Contents

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 TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
2010–11 Jokerit FIN U181457121040114
2010–11Jokerit Jr. A 31122
2011–12JokeritJr. A4821305116112576
2011–12 Kiekko–Vantaa Mestis 20000
2012–13JokeritJr. A115496112576
2012–13 Jokerit SM-l 190004
2012–13 Kiekko–VantaaMestis22461016
2013–14 JokeritSM-l442351020000
2013–14 Kiekko–VantaaMestis112358
2014–15 Ässät SM-l5714213528
2014–15 Texas Stars AHL 50112
2015–16 Texas StarsAHL731428425642240
2015–16 Dallas Stars NHL 40000
2016–17 Dallas StarsNHL736121822
2016–17 Texas StarsAHL20110
2017–18 Dallas StarsNHL807202724
2018–19 Dallas StarsNHL8211213233131344
2019–20 Dallas StarsNHL693202312271782
2020–21 Dallas StarsNHL565111619
2021–22 Dallas StarsNHL76421251270220
2022–23 Dallas StarsNHL828162410190338
2023–24 Dallas StarsNHL825212612193254
2024–25 Dallas StarsNHL805212614181124
Liiga totals1201624404220000
NHL totals684541632171581036182422
Medal record
Representing Flag of Finland.svg  Finland
Ice hockey
World Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2022 Finland
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2016 Russia
World Junior Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2014 Sweden

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2011 Finland IH18 4th510114
2012 Finland U18 4th70662
2014 Finland WJC Gold medal icon.svg72356
2015 Finland WC 6th81560
2016 FinlandWCSilver medal icon.svg101340
2016 Finland WCH 8th10000
2022 FinlandWCGold medal icon.svg60112
2025Finland 4NF 4th31010
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.