Esa Lindell
| Position | Left Defense | Current Team | Dallas Stars |
| Shoots | Left | Current Contract | 5 years |
| Height | 6'3" | Expires | 2029-30 |
| Weight (lbs) | 217 | Expiry Age (Jun 30) | 36 |
| Age | 31 (May 23, 1994) | Expiry Status | UFA |
| Drafted | 2012, Round 3, Overall 74 (DAL) |
| Date | Team | Transaction | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 17, 2024 | Dallas Stars | Signed 5 years @ $5.250M AAV starting in 2025-26 | |
| May 16, 2019 | Dallas Stars | Signed 6 years @ $5.800M AAV starting in 2019-20 | |
| Jun 26, 2017 | Dallas Stars | Signed 2 years @ $2.200M AAV starting in 2017-18 | |
| May 26, 2014 | Dallas Stars | Signed to an entry level contract. |
2025-26 Player Card
URL: https://www.thestanleycap.com/cdn/player_cards/20252026/esa-lindell-8476902.png
2024-25 Player Card
URL: https://www.thestanleycap.com/cdn/player_cards/20242025/esa-lindell-8476902.png
2023-24 Player Card
URL: https://www.thestanleycap.com/cdn/player_cards/20232024/esa-lindell-8476902.png
About Player Cards
Player cards present an infographic of a players performance. In this case it shows the player performance over a 3 season span. Each square is separated into three separate sub-boxes with the two smaller boxes on top representing the past two seasons and the larger box on the bottom representing the current or most recent season. This allows the reader to guage how consistent a player has been, and if early in the season it can help identify whether a players performance may be impacted by small sample size and subject to regression or is consistent with recent past performance.
Notes and Definitions
- The numbers represent percentiles so the higher the better.
- Percentiles are determined by comparing Forwards to Forwards and Defensemen to Defensemen.
- Bursts/mi are calculated from NHL Edge Data are are speed bursts above 20mpg per mile skated. The NHL doesn't adjust for ice time so the players that skate more will naturally have more bursts over 20, or at least more opportunity to have more. The NHL also does not provide ice time in the context of NHL Edge Statistics, however, it does provide distance skated. By adjusting for distance skated it will have a similar effect to adjusting for ice time but also adjust for situationional effect. For example, Players don't typically skate as much on the PK, mostly within the defensive zone, so don't get significant opportunity in that ice time to get speed bursts above 20mph. Adjusting with miles skates would account for this better than adjusting with ice time.
- Sh%AE is Shooting Percentage above Expected (Sh% - xSh%) and is an indicator of how good a shooter is at converting chances into goals.
- Relative statistics are On Ice - Off Ice statistics and can be an indicator of whether the player makes his teammates better or worse.
- All data is 5v5 except Shooting Hardest and Average, Skating Top Speed and Bursts/mi which are all situations, ES Average which is even strength (NHL doesn't give a specific definition).
Data Sources
- Salary data is from TheStanleyCap.com
- Shooting and Skating (except Sh%AE) are from NHL Edge
- Other statistics are from Puckalytics.com and derived from data from NHL.com
Terms of Use
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Note: The image will update daily throughout the season so if you want to include snapshot then you must download the image.
If you have any questions, send an e-mail to the e-mail address at the top of this page.
5v5 Individual Stats
| Season | Team(s) | GP | TOI | G/60 | A/60 | Pts/60 | xG/60 | GAE/60 | Sh% | xSh% | Sh%AE | %SA Rush | %SA Reb. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | DAL | 4 | 53:28 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.10 | -0.10 | 0.00 | 4.47 | -4.47 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| 2016-17 | DAL | 73 | 1272:33 | 0.24 | 0.42 | 0.66 | 0.14 | 0.09 | 6.41 | 3.88 | 2.53 | 0.88 | 3.54 |
| 2017-18 | DAL | 80 | 1383:12 | 0.13 | 0.52 | 0.65 | 0.17 | -0.04 | 3.12 | 4.01 | -0.88 | 3.15 | 4.72 |
| 2018-19 | DAL | 82 | 1526:39 | 0.16 | 0.55 | 0.71 | 0.16 | -0.00 | 4.12 | 4.17 | -0.04 | 0.74 | 2.96 |
| 2019-20 | DAL | 69 | 1168:00 | 0.05 | 0.46 | 0.51 | 0.14 | -0.08 | 1.45 | 3.84 | -2.39 | 0.00 | 2.25 |
| 2020-21 | DAL | 56 | 1018:51 | 0.18 | 0.47 | 0.65 | 0.17 | 0.01 | 4.00 | 3.78 | 0.22 | 1.89 | 2.83 |
| 2021-22 | DAL | 76 | 1350:28 | 0.13 | 0.53 | 0.67 | 0.15 | -0.02 | 2.70 | 3.11 | -0.40 | 0.00 | 1.56 |
| 2022-23 | DAL | 82 | 1281:34 | 0.23 | 0.61 | 0.84 | 0.18 | 0.05 | 5.38 | 4.16 | 1.21 | 0.00 | 3.23 |
| 2023-24 | DAL | 82 | 1313:29 | 0.18 | 0.82 | 1.00 | 0.21 | -0.03 | 4.12 | 4.79 | -0.67 | 2.16 | 4.32 |
| 2024-25 | DAL | 80 | 1400:06 | 0.13 | 0.60 | 0.73 | 0.16 | -0.03 | 3.66 | 4.47 | -0.82 | 1.59 | 2.38 |
| 2025-26 | DAL | 20 | 339:58 | 0.35 | 0.53 | 0.88 | 0.17 | 0.18 | 11.11 | 5.49 | 5.62 | 0.00 | 6.90 |
5v5 On Ice Stats
| Season | Team(s) | GP | TOI | SAF/60 | GF/60 | xGF/60 | SAA/60 | GA/60 | xGA/60 | GF% | xGF% | xGF Rel | xGA Rel | xGF% Rel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | DAL | 4 | 53:28 | 40.40 | 1.12 | 2.97 | 38.15 | 4.49 | 2.81 | 20.00 | 51.33 | -0.81 | 1.03 | -16.61 |
| 2016-17 | DAL | 73 | 1272:33 | 39.94 | 2.31 | 2.42 | 42.76 | 2.03 | 2.64 | 53.26 | 47.78 | -0.21 | 0.22 | -4.30 |
| 2017-18 | DAL | 80 | 1383:12 | 43.85 | 2.56 | 2.77 | 41.04 | 2.08 | 2.36 | 55.14 | 54.01 | 0.47 | 0.21 | 2.35 |
| 2018-19 | DAL | 82 | 1526:39 | 35.61 | 1.97 | 2.14 | 44.76 | 1.97 | 2.50 | 50.00 | 46.07 | -0.53 | 0.16 | -7.21 |
| 2019-20 | DAL | 69 | 1168:00 | 38.22 | 2.31 | 2.55 | 43.77 | 2.41 | 2.59 | 48.91 | 49.55 | 0.02 | 0.40 | -3.98 |
| 2020-21 | DAL | 56 | 1018:51 | 39.22 | 2.41 | 2.18 | 37.10 | 2.06 | 2.12 | 53.95 | 50.75 | -0.27 | 0.08 | -3.91 |
| 2021-22 | DAL | 76 | 1350:28 | 37.68 | 2.22 | 2.41 | 41.99 | 2.31 | 2.44 | 49.02 | 49.70 | -0.37 | -0.14 | -2.15 |
| 2022-23 | DAL | 82 | 1281:34 | 39.00 | 2.53 | 2.57 | 42.18 | 2.11 | 2.48 | 54.55 | 50.85 | -0.20 | 0.10 | -2.96 |
| 2023-24 | DAL | 82 | 1313:29 | 43.99 | 2.79 | 2.75 | 41.20 | 2.51 | 2.22 | 52.59 | 55.28 | 0.03 | 0.06 | -0.41 |
| 2024-25 | DAL | 80 | 1400:06 | 38.27 | 2.74 | 2.35 | 43.97 | 1.93 | 2.38 | 58.72 | 49.70 | -0.14 | -0.07 | -0.79 |
| 2025-26 | DAL | 20 | 339:58 | 39.00 | 2.82 | 2.52 | 35.12 | 1.94 | 1.95 | 59.26 | 56.34 | 0.54 | -0.38 | 10.48 |
NHL Edge Stats
| Skating | Shooting | Zone Time | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | GP | Top Speed | Bursts>20/mi | Avg. Speed | ES Avg. Speed | Top Speed | Avg. Speed | %Long Range | %Mid Range | %High Danger | ES DZ% | ES NZ% | ES OZ% |
| This table is for Basic and Premium subscribers only. To view please login to and/or subscribe to one of our subscription plans. | |||||||||||||
Legend
| Percentile 0-25 | Percentile 25-50 | Percentile 50-75 | Percentile 75-100 |
5v5 Defense Pairs
| Season | Teammate | Team | TOI | GF/60 | GA/60 | GF% | xGF/60 | xGA/60 | xGF% | xGF Rel | xGA Rel | xGF% Rel |
|---|
Glossary
| Type | Statistic | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | G/60 | Goals Against per 60 minutes. |
| Individual | A/60 | Assists per 60 minutes. |
| Individual | Pts/60 | Points per 60 minutes. |
| Individual | xG/60 | Expected Goals per 60 minutes. |
| Individual | GAE/60 | Goals Above Expected (G/60 - xG/60). |
| Individual | Sh% | Shooting Percentage. |
| Individual | xSh% | Expected Shooting Percentage. |
| Individual | Sh%AE | Shooting percentage above expected (Sh% - xSh%). |
| Individual | %SA Rush | Percentage of shot attempts determined to be on the rush. |
| Individual | %SA Reb. | Percentage of shot attempts determined to be from rebounds. |
| On Ice | SAF/60 | Shot Attempts For per 60 minutes. |
| On Ice | GF/60 | Goals For per 60 minutes. |
| On Ice | xGF/60 | Expected Goals For per 60 minutes. |
| On Ice | SAA/60 | Shot Attempts Against per 60 minutes (lower is better). |
| On Ice | GA/60 | Goals Against per 60 minutes (lower is better). |
| On Ice | xGA/60 | Expected Goals Against per 60 minutes (lower is better). |
| On Ice | GF% | Goals For Percentage = Goals For / (Goals For + Goals Against) |
| On Ice | xGF% | Expected Goals For Percentage = Expected Goals For / (Expected Goals For + Expected Goals Against) |
| On Ice | xGF Rel | xGF/60 when On Ice - xGF/60 when not On Ice. |
| On Ice | xGA Rel | xGA/60 when On Ice - xGA/60 when not On Ice (lower is better). |
| On Ice | xGF% Rel | xGF% when On Ice - xGF% when not On Ice. |
News and Opinions
-
Esa Lindell: Dallas’ Underrated Workhorse at Dallas Sports Nation (Sun Nov 16, 2025)
-
Finnish Mafia just took over Team Finland and Stars fans love it at Blackout Dallas (Mon Jun 16, 2025)
Current Contract
Esa Lindell signed a $26,250,000 5-year contract with the Dallas Stars and General Manager Jim Nill on September 17, 2024 with an AAV of $5,250,000. This contract will start in 2025-26 and end after the 2029-30 season. In the first season of the contract the cap hit was equivalent to 5.50% of the salary cap.
Standard Contract (UFA) ( ) (0 ratings)
Esa Lindell signed a $34,800,000 6-year contract with the Dallas Stars and General Manager Jim Nill on May 16, 2019 with an AAV of $5,800,000. This contract will start in 2019-20 and end after the 2024-25 season. In the first season of the contract the cap hit was equivalent to 7.12% of the salary cap.
Standard Contract (RFA) ( ) (0 ratings)
| Season | Age* | Clause | Cap Hit | AAV | Perf. Bonus | Sign. Bonus | Salary | Compensation | Minors Salary | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | 25 | $5,800,000 | $5,800,000 | - | $1,000,000 | $6,000,000 | $7,000,000 | $7,000,000 | RFA-arb | ||
| 2020-21 | 26 | $5,800,000 | $5,800,000 | - | - | $4,800,000 | $4,800,000 | $4,800,000 | RFA-arb | ||
| 2021-22 | 27 | NMC | $5,800,000 | $5,800,000 | - | $2,000,000 | $5,000,000 | $7,000,000 | $7,000,000 | UFA | |
| 2022-23 | 28 | NMC | $5,800,000 | $5,800,000 | - | $1,000,000 | $5,000,000 | $6,000,000 | $6,000,000 | UFA | |
| 2023-24 | 29 | NMC | $5,800,000 | $5,800,000 | - | - | $5,000,000 | $5,000,000 | $5,000,000 | UFA | |
| 2024-25 | 30 | NMC | $5,800,000 | $5,800,000 | - | - | $5,000,000 | $5,000,000 | $5,000,000 | UFA | |
| Total | - | $4,000,000 | $30,800,000 | $34,800,000 | $34,800,000 |
Esa Lindell signed a $4,400,000 2-year contract with the Dallas Stars and General Manager Jim Nill on June 26, 2017 with an AAV of $2,200,000. This contract will start in 2017-18 and end after the 2018-19 season. In the first season of the contract the cap hit was equivalent to 2.93% of the salary cap.
Standard Contract (RFA) ( ) (0 ratings)
| Season | Age* | Clause | Cap Hit | AAV | Perf. Bonus | Sign. Bonus | Salary | Compensation | Minors Salary | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-18 | 23 | $2,200,000 | $2,200,000 | - | - | $2,200,000 | $2,200,000 | $2,200,000 | RFA | ||
| 2018-19 | 24 | $2,200,000 | $2,200,000 | - | - | $2,200,000 | $2,200,000 | $2,200,000 | RFA-arb | ||
| Total | - | - | $4,400,000 | $4,400,000 | $4,400,000 |
Esa Lindell signed a $2,237,500 3-year contract with the Dallas Stars and General Manager Jim Nill on May 26, 2014 with an AAV of $745,833. This contract will start in 2014-15 and end after the 2016-17 season. In the first season of the contract the cap hit was equivalent to 1.08% of the salary cap.
Entry Level Contract ( ) (0 ratings)
| Season | Age* | Clause | Cap Hit | AAV | Perf. Bonus | Sign. Bonus | Salary | Compensation | Minors Salary | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-15 | 20 | $745,833 | $925,000 | $257,500 | $92,500 | $575,000 | $667,500 | $60,000 | ELC | ||
| 2015-16 | 21 | $745,833 | $925,000 | $157,500 | $92,500 | $675,000 | $767,500 | $67,500 | ELC | ||
| 2016-17 | 22 | $745,833 | $925,000 | $122,500 | $92,500 | $710,000 | $802,500 | $70,000 | ELC | ||
| Total | $537,500 | $277,500 | $1,960,000 | $2,237,500 | $197,500 |
Career Statistics
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | League | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM | Shots | Sh% | TOI/G | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM | Shots | Sh% | TOI/G |
| 2008-09 | Jr. C SM-sarja | Jokerit U16 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | |||||||||||||
| 2008-09 | U16 SM-sarja | Jokerit U16 | 8 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||
| 2009-10 | Fin-U18 | Jokerit U18 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |||||||||||||
| 2009-10 | U16 SM-sarja | Jokerit U16 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | |||||||||||||
| 2010-11 | Fin-U18 | Jokerit U18 | 14 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 4 | |||||||||
| 2010-11 | Fin-Jr. | Jokerit Jr. | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | |||||||||||||
| 2011-12 | WJ18-A | Finland | 7 | 0 | 6 | 6 | +4 | 2 | ||||||||||||
| 2011-12 | Finland-2 | K-Vantaa | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||
| 2011-12 | Fin-Jr. | Jokerit Jr. | 48 | 21 | 30 | 51 | 16 | 11 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 6 | ||||||||
| 2012-13 | Finland-2 | K-Vantaa | 22 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 16 | |||||||||||||
| 2012-13 | Finland | Jokerit | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |||||||||||||
| 2012-13 | Fin-Jr. | Jokerit Jr. | 11 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 6 | |||||||||||||
| 2013-14 | Finland-2 | K-Vantaa | 11 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 8 | |||||||||||||
| 2013-14 | WJC-A | Czech Republic | 7 | 2 | 3 | 5 | +6 | 6 | 16 | |||||||||||
| 2013-14 | Finland | Jokerit | 44 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 2 | ||||||||||||
| 2014-15 | WC-A | Finland | 8 | 1 | 5 | 6 | +5 | 26 | ||||||||||||
| 2014-15 | AHL | Texas | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 0.0 | |||||||||||
| 2014-15 | Finland | Assat | 57 | 14 | 21 | 35 | 28 | 2 | ||||||||||||
| 2015-16 | WC-A | Finland | 10 | 1 | 3 | 4 | +6 | 17 | 590.0 | |||||||||||
| 2015-16 | NHL | Dallas Stars | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -3 | 2 | 0.0 | 14:03 | ||||||||||
| 2015-16 | AHL | Texas | 73 | 14 | 28 | 42 | +6 | 56 | 128 | 1,090.0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | +2 | 6 | 3,330.0 | |||
| 2016-17 | NHL | Dallas Stars | 73 | 6 | 12 | 18 | +8 | 22 | 99 | 6.1 | 21:52 | |||||||||
| 2016-17 | AHL | Texas Stars | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | +3 | |||||||||||||
| 2016-17 | WCup | Finland | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | |||||||||||||
| 2017-18 | NHL | Dallas Stars | 80 | 7 | 20 | 27 | +19 | 24 | 137 | 5.1 | 22:05 | |||||||||
| 2018-19 | NHL | Dallas Stars | 82 | 11 | 21 | 32 | +14 | 33 | 132 | 8.3 | 24:20 | 13 | 1 | 3 | 4 | +4 | 4 | 15 | 6.7 | 26:58 |
| 2019-20 | NHL | Dallas Stars | 69 | 3 | 20 | 23 | +5 | 12 | 98 | 3.1 | 23:25 | 27 | 1 | 7 | 8 | -12 | 2 | 41 | 2.4 | 24:44 |
| 2020-21 | NHL | Dallas Stars | 56 | 5 | 11 | 16 | +11 | 19 | 100 | 5.0 | 23:11 | |||||||||
| 2021-22 | WC | Finland | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 2 | ||||||||||||
| 2021-22 | NHL | Dallas Stars | 76 | 4 | 21 | 25 | +4 | 12 | 136 | 2.9 | 22:03 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 17 | 0.0 | 23:15 | |||
| 2022-23 | NHL | Dallas Stars | 82 | 8 | 16 | 24 | +29 | 10 | 116 | 6.9 | 19:55 | 19 | 3 | 3 | -10 | 8 | 28 | 0.0 | 20:50 | |
| 2023-24 | NHL | Dallas Stars | 82 | 5 | 21 | 26 | +17 | 12 | 114 | 4.4 | 20:28 | 19 | 3 | 2 | 5 | +2 | 4 | 23 | 13.0 | 24:45 |
| 2024-25 | 4 Nations | Finland | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -2 | 2 | 50.0 | 80:12 | ||||||||||
| 2024-25 | NHL | Dallas Stars | 80 | 5 | 21 | 26 | +34 | 14 | 99 | 5.1 | 22:11 | 18 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -3 | 4 | 18 | 5.6 | 23:32 |
| 2025-26 | NHL | Dallas Stars | 21 | 2 | 4 | 6 | +9 | 6 | 23 | 8.7 | 22:56 | |||||||||
| NHL Career | 705 | 56 | 167 | 223 | +147 | 164 | 1056 | 5.3 | 22:05 | 103 | 6 | 18 | 24 | -19 | 22 | 142 | 4.2 | 23:59 | ||