1. Overview
Esa Lindell is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman who serves as an alternate captain for the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Stars in the third round, 74th overall, in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. Lindell has also been a key member of the Finnish national ice hockey team, earning gold medals at the 2014 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships and the 2022 IIHF World Championship, and a silver medal at the 2016 IIHF World Championship.
2. Early Life and Background
Esa Lindell was born on May 23, 1994, in Vantaa, Finland. He began his ice hockey career in Finland, developing through junior programs before making his professional debut.
3. Playing Career
Esa Lindell's playing career spans various Finnish leagues, the American Hockey League (AHL), and the National Hockey League (NHL), where he established himself as a prominent defenseman.
3.1. Junior and Early Professional Career
Lindell made his professional debut in Finland's top-tier league, then known as the SM-liiga, with Jokerit during the 2012-13 SM-liiga season. Prior to this, he played extensively in Jokerit's junior system, including the FIN U18 and Jr. A leagues, and also had a stint with Kiekko-Vantaa in the Mestis league during the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons.
On May 7, 2014, Lindell signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Dallas Stars, the NHL organization that had drafted him. For the 2014-15 Liiga season, he was reassigned to the Liiga (formerly SM-liiga) to play with Ässät. During this season, Lindell had a career-high performance, recording 14 goals and 35 points in 57 games, which led all Liiga defensemen in scoring. On March 16, 2015, he was assigned by Dallas to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Texas Stars, where he played five games at the end of the 2014-15 season. He spent the majority of the 2015-16 AHL season with the Texas Stars, tallying 14 goals and 28 assists for 42 points in 73 games.
3.2. National Hockey League (NHL) Career
On January 18, 2016, Esa Lindell received his first NHL call-up from the Dallas Stars. He made his NHL debut the following day, January 19, in a game against the Los Angeles Kings. On November 25, 2016, in his 17th career NHL game, Lindell scored his first NHL goal, contributing to a 2-1 victory against the Vancouver Canucks.
In June 2017, Lindell signed a two-year contract extension with the Dallas Stars, valued at 4.40 M USD, carrying an annual salary cap hit of 2.20 M USD. His consistent performance led to another significant contract on May 16, 2019, when he signed a six-year extension worth 34.80 M USD, with an annual cap hit of 5.80 M USD. On September 19, 2024, Lindell further solidified his long-term commitment to the Stars by signing a five-year, 26.25 M USD extension, carrying an annual cap hit of 5.25 M USD.
In February 2020, Lindell was named an alternate captain for the Dallas Stars, sharing the role with teammate Blake Comeau. During home games, Lindell and Tyler Seguin served as alternate captains, while Comeau and John Klingberg wore the 'A' during road games.
4. International Play
Esa Lindell has consistently represented Finland in various international ice hockey tournaments, achieving significant success at both junior and senior levels.
He participated in the 2011 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, where Finland finished 4th. In 2012, he played for Finland in the 2012 IIHF World U18 Championships, again finishing 4th. His junior career culminated in a gold medal victory at the 2014 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.
At the senior level, Lindell first joined the Finnish national team for the 2015 IIHF World Championship, where Finland placed 6th. He earned a silver medal with the team at the 2016 IIHF World Championship. Later that year, he also represented Finland at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. Most recently, Lindell was part of the Finnish squad that won the gold medal at the 2022 IIHF World Championship held in Finland.
5. Personal Life
Beyond his professional playing career, Esa Lindell has demonstrated an interest in the business side of hockey. In 2023, he joined the ownership group of Jokerit Helsinki, his former club. This move followed the team's departure from the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) in 2022 and a subsequent restructuring of its operating company. The ownership group includes Jokerit ry and a number of players who have ties to the team, such as Ossi Väänänen and Teuvo Teräväinen.
6. Career Statistics
6.1. Regular season and playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | 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 | ||||
6.2. 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 | Gold | 7 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 |
| 2015 | Finland | WC | 6th | 8 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 0 |
| 2016 | Finland | WC | Silver | 10 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| 2016 | Finland | WCH | 8th | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | Finland | WC | Gold | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Junior totals | 19 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 22 | |||
| Senior totals | 25 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 2 | |||
7. Awards and Achievements
Esa Lindell has earned several significant awards and recognitions throughout his ice hockey career:
- Gold Medal**: 2014 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
- Silver Medal**: 2016 IIHF World Championship
- Gold Medal**: 2022 IIHF World Championship
8. Playing Style and Impact
Esa Lindell is recognized as a skilled and reliable defenceman in professional ice hockey. His playing style combines defensive prowess with notable offensive capabilities, particularly demonstrated by his leading all Liiga defensemen in scoring during the 2014-15 season. His ability to contribute offensively from the blue line adds a significant dimension to his team's play.
As an alternate captain for the Dallas Stars, Lindell also exhibits strong leadership qualities on and off the ice. His consistent presence on the team since his NHL debut in 2016 and his multiple long-term contract extensions underscore his value and impact as a foundational player for the Stars. His contributions have been vital to the team's defensive structure and overall performance.