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Photo of NHL player Esa Lindell

Dallas Stars Logo Esa Lindell

Position Left Defense Current Team Dallas Stars
Shoots Left Current Contract 5 years ($5.2M CapHit)
Height 6'3" Expires 2029-30
Weight (lbs) 217 Expiry Age (Jun 30) 36
Age (DOB) 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.
Status History Coming Soon


URL: https://thestanleycap.com/cdn/player_cards/20252026/esa-lindell-8476902.png



URL: https://thestanleycap.com/cdn/player_cards/20242025/esa-lindell-8476902.png



URL: https://thestanleycap.com/cdn/player_cards/20232024/esa-lindell-8476902.png

About Player Cards

Player cards present an infographic of a players performance using a series of Player Archetypes developed for Puckalytics.com and TheStanleyCap.com. The boxes in the rink image show the archetype ratings for the season specified in the card while the graphs to the right show the five-year trends for those archetypes.

Except for Faceoffs, the values shown are the players z-score (standard deviation from the mean) for the specific metric used to calculate the archetype values. When calculating z-scores forwards were compared to forwards and defensemen were compared to defensemen. Positive values indicate the player is above average and shaded in blue, while negative values indicate the player is below average and shaded in punk. The five year trend charts show a range of -4.0 to 4.0.

The value shown for Faceoffs is the faceoff winning percentage rather than their z-score with winning percentages below 50 in pink shades and above 50 in blue shades.

All archetypes are 5v5 except 5v4 TOI, 4v5 TOI, Skating (even strength) and Faceoffs (all situations). Archetypes use regular season data only.

Archetypes Summary
  • Sniper - Measures the to score above the expected goal rate.
  • Rebound - Measures the percent of a players shot attempts that come from rebounds (forwards only).
  • 5v4 TOI - Powerplay ice time, calculated as the percentage of his teams 5v4 ice time that the player was on the ice for.
  • Shooter - Measures whether a players points come from shots (goals or assists on rebounds from his shots).
  • Producer - Measures a players ability to produce goals and assists, adjusted for quality of teammates.
  • Playmaker - Measures whether a players points come from passes.
  • Drive - Measures a players ability to drive puck possession and generate shot attempts for his team.
  • Rush - Measures the percent of a players shot attempts that come from rush plays
  • Possession - An indicator of a players ability to improve his teams puck possession game.
  • Faceoffs - Faceoff Winning Percentage (min. 75 faceoffs taken).
  • 5v5 TOI - The percentage of his teams 5v5 TOI that the player was on the ice for.
  • Suppress - Measures a players ability to suppress opponent puck possession and shot attempts against.
  • Skating - An indicator of a players skating ability, or speed bursts above 20mph per mile skated.
  • Defend - An indicator of a players ability to suppress shot quality against.
  • 4v5 TOI - Penalty Kill ice time, calculated as the percentage of his teams 4v5 ice time that the player was on the ice for.
Data Sources
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Read Introducing Player Archetypes on HockeyAnalysis.com for more details on archetype calculations.

Core Archetypes

Season Team(s) GP TOI Producer Playmaker Shooter Sniper Rebound Rush Skating Defend
2015-16 DAL 4 -1.49 -1.46 -0.82 -1.31 - -0.89 - -11.76
2016-17 DAL 73 -0.46 -0.73 0.09 1.26 - -0.19 - 1.35
2017-18 DAL 80 -0.69 -0.40 -0.71 -0.33 - 1.72 - 0.52
2018-19 DAL 82 -0.23 -0.24 -0.23 0.10 - -0.37 - 0.71
2019-20 DAL 69 -0.96 -0.58 -0.82 -0.90 - -0.88 - -0.83
2020-21 DAL 56 -0.66 -0.68 -0.30 0.14 - 0.75 - -0.24
2021-22 DAL 76 -0.66 -0.61 -0.53 0.06 - -1.07 -0.97 0.05
2022-23 DAL 82 -0.18 -0.27 -0.07 0.59 - -0.89 -0.78 0.55
2023-24 DAL 82 0.17 0.54 -0.48 -0.33 - 1.07 -0.84 -0.15
2024-25 DAL 80 -0.68 -0.63 -0.52 -0.59 - 1.78 -0.93 1.67
2025-26 DAL 82 -0.17 -0.13 -0.29 0.67 - -0.70 -1.04 -0.15

Situational and Secondary Archetypes

Season Team(s) GP TOI 5v5 TOI 5v4 TOI 4v5 TOI Possession Drive Suppress Faceoffs
2015-16 DAL 4 -1.54 -1.57 -1.81 -4.91 -5.63 2.51 -
2016-17 DAL 73 0.85 -0.61 0.25 -1.38 -1.34 0.77 -
2017-18 DAL 80 0.95 0.08 -0.26 0.20 1.25 1.08 -
2018-19 DAL 82 1.32 -0.42 1.77 -2.00 -1.62 1.13 -
2019-20 DAL 69 0.66 -0.59 2.03 -1.31 -0.63 1.28 -
2020-21 DAL 56 0.90 -0.47 1.63 -0.64 -0.33 0.48 -
2021-22 DAL 76 0.80 -1.11 1.32 -0.78 -1.15 -0.14 -
2022-23 DAL 82 -0.21 -1.38 1.94 -1.16 -1.13 0.58 -
2023-24 DAL 82 -0.11 -1.38 2.21 -0.70 -0.28 0.74 -
2024-25 DAL 80 0.66 -1.31 2.30 -0.92 -0.76 0.62 -
2025-26 DAL 82 0.70 -0.80 2.31 1.09 0.12 -1.60 -

About Archetypes

Player archetypes are a look at a players strengths and weaknesses in his game when compared to other players around the leeague. Except for Faceoffs, the values shown are the players z-score (standard deviation from the mean) for the specific metric used to calculate the archetype values. When calculating z-scores forwards were compared to forwards and defensemen were compared to defensemen. Positive values indicate the player is above average and shaded in blue, while negative values indicate the player is below average and shaded in punk. The five year trend charts show a range of -4.0 to 4.0.

The value shown for Faceoffs is the faceoff winning percentage rather than their z-score with winning percentages below 50 in pink shades and above 50 in blue shades.

All archetypes are 5v5 except 5v4 TOI, 4v5 TOI and Faceoffs (all situations). Archetypes use regular season data only.

Archetypes Summary
  • Producer - Measures a players ability to produce goals and assists, adjusted for quality of teammates.
  • Playmaker - Measures whether a players points come from passes.
  • Shooter - Measures whether a players points come from shots (goals or assists on rebounds from his shots).
  • Sniper - Measures the to score above the expected goal rate.
  • Rebound - Measures the percent of a players shot attempts that come from rebounds (forwards only).
  • Rush - Measures the percent of a players shot attempts that come from rush plays
  • Skating - An indicator of a players skating ability, or speed bursts above 20mph per mile skated.
  • Defend - An indicator of a players ability to suppress shot quality against.
  • 5v5 TOI - The percentage of his teams 5v5 TOI that the player was on the ice for.
  • 5v4 TOI - Powerplay ice time, calculated as the percentage of his teams 5v4 ice time that the player was on the ice for.
  • 4v5 TOI - Penalty Kill ice time, calculated as the percentage of his teams 4v5 ice time that the player was on the ice for.
  • Possession - An indicator of a players ability to improve his teams puck possession game.
  • Drive - Measures a players ability to drive puck possession and generate shot attempts for his team.
  • Suppress - Measures a players ability to suppress opponent puck possession and shot attempts against.
  • Faceoffs - Faceoff Winning Percentage (min. 75 faceoffs taken).

Read Introducing Player Archetypes on HockeyAnalysis.com for more details on archetype calculations.

Data Sources

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 0.07 -0.07 0.00 3.29 -3.29 0.00 0.00
2016-17 DAL 73 1272:33 0.24 0.42 0.66 0.14 0.10 6.41 3.69 2.72 0.88 3.54
2017-18 DAL 80 1383:12 0.13 0.52 0.65 0.15 -0.02 3.12 3.68 -0.56 3.15 4.72
2018-19 DAL 82 1526:39 0.16 0.55 0.71 0.16 -0.00 4.12 4.18 -0.06 0.74 2.96
2019-20 DAL 69 1168:00 0.05 0.46 0.51 0.12 -0.07 1.45 3.51 -2.06 0.00 2.25
2020-21 DAL 56 1018:51 0.18 0.47 0.65 0.17 0.01 4.00 3.79 0.21 1.89 2.83
2021-22 DAL 76 1350:28 0.13 0.53 0.67 0.14 -0.00 2.70 2.76 -0.06 0.00 1.56
2022-23 DAL 82 1281:34 0.23 0.61 0.84 0.18 0.05 5.38 4.15 1.23 0.00 3.23
2023-24 DAL 82 1313:29 0.18 0.82 1.00 0.20 -0.02 4.12 4.59 -0.46 2.16 4.32
2024-25 DAL 80 1400:06 0.13 0.60 0.73 0.18 -0.05 3.66 5.07 -1.41 1.59 2.38
2025-26 DAL 82 1425:14 0.21 0.76 0.97 0.15 0.06 7.81 5.51 2.30 0.00 6.45

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 2.64 38.15 4.49 2.60 20.00 50.40 -0.62 1.10 -18.18
2016-17 DAL 73 1272:33 39.94 2.31 2.24 42.76 2.03 2.54 53.26 46.84 -0.20 0.30 -5.23
2017-18 DAL 80 1383:12 43.85 2.56 2.65 41.04 2.08 2.18 55.14 54.81 0.51 0.19 3.12
2018-19 DAL 82 1526:39 35.61 1.97 2.07 44.76 1.97 2.42 50.00 46.15 -0.54 0.15 -7.41
2019-20 DAL 69 1168:00 38.22 2.31 2.54 43.77 2.41 2.46 48.91 50.81 0.08 0.37 -3.22
2020-21 DAL 56 1018:51 39.22 2.41 2.07 37.10 2.06 1.98 53.95 51.18 -0.35 -0.03 -3.43
2021-22 DAL 76 1350:28 37.68 2.22 2.37 41.99 2.31 2.39 49.02 49.77 -0.35 -0.12 -2.27
2022-23 DAL 82 1281:34 39.00 2.53 2.62 42.18 2.11 2.55 54.55 50.65 -0.13 0.13 -2.49
2023-24 DAL 82 1313:29 43.99 2.79 2.73 41.20 2.51 2.16 52.59 55.89 0.11 -0.03 1.38
2024-25 DAL 80 1400:06 38.27 2.74 2.51 43.97 1.93 2.48 58.72 50.27 -0.16 -0.12 -0.30
2025-26 DAL 82 1425:14 35.15 2.99 2.57 34.27 1.94 2.13 60.68 54.70 0.12 -0.40 5.52

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
Forwards are compared with forwards and Defensemen are are compared with Defensemen.

5v5 Defense Pairs

Season
Season Teammate Team TOI GF/60 GA/60 GF% xGF/60 xGA/60 xGF% xGF Rel xGA Rel xGF% Rel
This table is for Basic and Premium subscribers only. To view please login to and/or subscribe to one of our subscription plans. 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 2026-27 2027-28 2028-29 2030-31 2031-32 2032-33 2033-34 2034-35

Glossary

Type Statistic Definition
IndividualG/60Goals Against per 60 minutes.
IndividualA/60Assists per 60 minutes.
IndividualPts/60Points per 60 minutes.
IndividualxG/60Expected Goals per 60 minutes.
IndividualGAE/60Goals Above Expected (G/60 - xG/60).
IndividualSh%Shooting Percentage.
IndividualxSh%Expected Shooting Percentage.
IndividualSh%AEShooting percentage above expected (Sh% - xSh%).
Individual%SA RushPercentage of shot attempts determined to be on the rush.
Individual%SA Reb.Percentage of shot attempts determined to be from rebounds.
On IceSAF/60Shot Attempts For per 60 minutes.
On IceGF/60Goals For per 60 minutes.
On IcexGF/60Expected Goals For per 60 minutes.
On IceSAA/60Shot Attempts Against per 60 minutes (lower is better).
On IceGA/60Goals Against per 60 minutes (lower is better).
On IcexGA/60Expected Goals Against per 60 minutes (lower is better).
On IceGF%Goals For Percentage = Goals For / (Goals For + Goals Against)
On IcexGF%Expected Goals For Percentage = Expected Goals For / (Expected Goals For + Expected Goals Against)
On IcexGF RelxGF/60 when On Ice - xGF/60 when not On Ice.
On IcexGA RelxGA/60 when On Ice - xGA/60 when not On Ice (lower is better).
On IcexGF% RelxGF% when On Ice - xGF% when not On Ice.
Individual and On-Ice stats from Puckalytics.com (starting in 2015-16). NHL Edge Stats from edge.nhl.com (starting in 2021-22). Edge statistic definitions can be found at the Edge Stats Glossary.

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)

Season Age* Clause Cap Hit AAV Perf. Bonus Sign. Bonus Salary Compensation Minors Salary Status
2025-26 31 M-NTC $5,250,000 $5,250,000 - $2,500,000 $4,000,000 $6,500,000 $6,250,000 UFA
2026-27 32 M-NTC $5,250,000 $5,250,000 - $2,500,000 $4,000,000 $6,500,000 $6,250,000 UFA
2027-28 33 M-NTC $5,250,000 $5,250,000 - $1,000,000 $4,250,000 $5,250,000 $5,250,000 UFA
2028-29 34 M-NTC $5,250,000 $5,250,000 - - $4,000,000 $4,000,000 $4,000,000 UFA
2029-30 35 M-NTC $5,250,000 $5,250,000 - - $4,000,000 $4,000,000 $4,000,000 UFA
Total - $6,000,000 $20,250,000 $26,250,000 $25,750,000
Signed: Sep 17, 2024
Team: Dallas Stars
Exp. Status: UFA
Cap %: 5.5
Clause: Full no trade clauses for 2025-26, 2026-27 and 2027-28. For 2028-29 and 2029-30 player can submit a 20 team no trade list.

Previous Contracts (show) (hide)

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
Signed: May 16, 2019
Team: Dallas Stars
Exp. Status: UFA
Cap %: 7.12

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
Signed: June 26, 2017
Team: Dallas Stars
Exp. Status: RFA-arb
Cap %: 2.93

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
Signed: May 26, 2014
Team: Dallas Stars
Exp. Status: RFA

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 26:44
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 OG Finland 6 0 3 3 +3 8 0.0 20:30
2025-26 NHL Dallas Stars 82 6 26 32 +30 20 83 7.2 23:14 6 1 1 -7 6 9 0.0 25:18
NHL Career 766 60 189 249 +168 178 1116 5.4 22:11 109 6 19 25 -26 28 151 4.0 24:03