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Esa Lindell

Esa Lindell

31-Year-Old DefensemanD
Dallas Stars
2025 Stats
G
4
A
8
PP Pts
0
+/-
15
PIM
6
ROS Projections
G
A
PP Pts
+/-
PIM
Unlock Our Projections
2025 Fantasy Outlook
Lindell is as stable as any defenseman in the league, and while that has plenty of on-ice value, his offense doesn't provide much for fantasy managers. The 31-year-old Finn finished last season with 26 points in 80 regular-season games, and he added a plus-34 rating, 99 shots on net, 170 blocked shots and 50 hits. It's a fine level of production for a shutdown defenseman, but his big contributions only come in the defensive categories. With Miro Heiskanen and Thomas Harley around, Lindell has no path to steady power-play time, and he might not even be the first option to join the man advantage when one of those players is out. Expect roughly 25 points and 150-plus blocks as well as a positive plus-minus rating, which should be enough to be rostered in deep formats. Read Past Outlooks
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Overall
#Subscriber-Only
Defenseman
Shoots Left
Height 6'3"
DOB 5/23/1994
Born Vantaa, Finland
Drafted 3rd Rd, #74 Overall in 2012
Signed a five-year, $26.25 million contract extension with the Stars in September of 2024.
Scores early in win
DDallas Stars
December 9, 2025
Lindell scored a goal on three shots and blocked four shots in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Jets.
ANALYSIS
Lindell tallied just 44 seconds into the game. He's maintained some productivity on offense with three goals, seven points and a plus-11 rating over his last 14 appearances, though he could see some premium minutes disappear with the return of Thomas Harley (lower body). Lindell is now at four goals, 11 points, 34 shots on net, 68 blocks and a plus-16 rating through 31 appearances, a scoring pace right in line with his last four seasons.
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2025–26 Time On Ice Stats
  • Average Time On Ice:
    23:58
  • Average Power Play TOI:
    0:44
  • Average Short-Handed TOI:
    4:26
 
Ice Time
Power Play
Short-Handed
2023–24
20:28
0:06
3:32
2024–25
22:11
0:13
3:35
2025–26
23:58
0:44
4:26
Stars Depth Chart
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Stars Power Play Depth Chart
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Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Esa Lindell See More
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
Lindell has played in all 164 regular-season games over the last two seasons and has reached the 20-point threshold in six of the last seven campaigns. If nothing else, fantasy players can appreciate the 30-year-old Finn's consistency in that regard. He doesn't offer much for banger leagues considering he hasn't reached the 100-hit mark in either of the last two seasons and could be in contention for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy when it comes to PIM. Additionally, Lindell hasn't recorded a power-play point since the 2021-22 season. All that to say, Lindell is a fringe roster option in most fantasy contests but could be an option in deeper formats or leagues that highly reward blocks.
Lindell lost 2:08 of ice time per game between 2021-22 and 2022-23, but his production remained roughly the same. Part of that is because Miro Heiskanen commands so much usage, but it's also because Lindell is no longer a factor on the power play. The 29-year-old does, however, remain an excellent shot blocker. He had 147 of them last year, tied for 25th in the league. With the Stars playing a balanced and defensively sound style, Lindell can help in defensive stats and plus-minus rating, but he shouldn't be expected to produce more than 25 points. There's room for a player like him in deeper fantasy formats, but he's not someone to build a squad around.
Lindell has emerged as a key top-four defender for the Stars, averaging more than 22 minutes of ice time per game each of the past five seasons. His 25 points in 80 games a year ago was his highest mark since the 2018-19 campaign, while Lindell again posted well over 100 each of hits (111) and blocks (148). There isn't enough offense here to make the 28-year-old Finn a fantasy option in standard formats, but he can certainly help you in leagues which value hits and blocks, all while adding some secondary scoring and not hurting you in the plus-minus category.
Lindell has developed into one of the steadiest defenders in the NHL. He's not a star and he won't lead your fantasy team to a championship, but there is low-end, multi-category production here on a yearly basis. Lindell is generally good for about a half dozen goals and 25-30 points over the course of a full 82-game season, in addition to 100-plus shots and well over 100 hits and blocks. There's a clear ceiling here, but Lindell is worth a late-round pick depending on your league's settings.
Lindell continued to flourish as a well-rounded defenseman in his fourth full season last year, posting 23 points, 127 blocked shots and 89 hits in 69 games. The Finn picked up seven of his points on the power play while adding a plus-5 rating. Lindell is a clear top-pairing defenseman due to his work in his own zone, but he's also no slouch on the scoresheet. The 26-year-old has shown remarkable durability despite his taxing physical play style, having missed only two games over the last three years. Fantasy managers won't want to reach on Lindell, who is typically only capable of a 25-to-30 point pace, but he'll be a solid depth piece in standard formats and a useful member of any team in leagues that count blocked shots.
Lindell's third NHL campaign was his best yet, as he set career highs in goals (11), points (32), hits (143), blocked shots (161) and average ice time (24:20). The 25-year-old is a strong two-way asset, and while he's overshadowed on the Dallas blue line by John Klingberg and emerging star Miro Heiskanen, Lindell would easily be a top-pairing defenseman on a lot of rosters. His lack of consistent power-play time puts a cap on his fantasy ceiling and isn't in a situation likely to change given all the talent around him. However, he still offers plenty of value in formats that utilize secondary categories, and even in standard fantasy leagues, Lindell shouldn't be overlooked.
A third round pick in 2012, Lindell has developed into a reliable jack-of-all-trades for the Stars, skating in all situations and handling his assignments with poise and confidence. The 24-year-old is capable of more offense than he showed last year given his plus vision and passing skills, but Tyler Seguin and John Klingberg are locked in as point men on the first power-play unit, putting a firm cap on Lindell's opportunities and ceiling. With Dallas looking for more consistent secondary scoring behind its big guns, though, he could be given more latitude to use his natural instincts for joining the rush. Lindell will continue his development in 2018-19 as a key piece of a young and improving Stars blue-line brigade.
Lindell made a good impression in his first full NHL season, showing poise and strong passing skills while registering a surprising plus-8 rating in 73 games for a Stars team that had trouble keeping the puck out of the net. While fellow prospect Julius Honka arguably has more offensive upside, Lindell’s length and willingness to jump into the rush makes him nearly as dangerous. That said, both of them could have a significant role with the man advantage as soon as this year. don't expect a big jump in Lindell’s point total in 2017-18, but the 23-year-old figures to be a key part of the Stars’ future on the blue line.
Lindell made his NHL debut during the 2015-16 season, but it didn't stick. He played just four total games. The young defender has a good chance of making an NHL gig stick this time. He's one of the most exciting defensive prospects in the league, as evidenced by his being named to Finland's World Cup team at such a young age. He's a strong puck-mover with a good first pass and the ability to be an offensive threat from the blue line.
More Fantasy News
Two-point effort Wednesday
DDallas Stars
December 4, 2025
Lindell collected two assists while adding five blocked shots, one hit, one shot on net and a plus-3 rating in Wednesday's 3-0 win over the Devils.
ANALYSIS
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Scores in Wednesday's win
DDallas Stars
November 27, 2025
Lindell scored a goal on two shots and blocked two shots in Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Kraken.
ANALYSIS
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Adds goal in big win
DDallas Stars
November 14, 2025
Lindell scored a goal and blocked two shots in Thursday's 7-0 win over the Canadiens.
ANALYSIS
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One of each Tuesday
DDallas Stars
October 14, 2025
Lindell scored a goal, added an assist, blocked four shots and went plus-3 in Tuesday's 5-2 win over the Wild.
ANALYSIS
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Nabs assist Saturday
DDallas Stars
October 11, 2025
Lindell recorded an assist, three hits and two blocked shots in Saturday's 5-4 shootout win over the Avalanche.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Finalizing extension
DDallas Stars
September 17, 2024
Lindell and the Stars are expected to announce a new contract extension for the blueliner, Kevin Weekes of ESPN reports Tuesday.
ANALYSIS
Lindell is entering the final campaign of a six-year, $34.8 million deal he signed with the Stars back in May of 2019. Expect his extension to come in higher than that number but still less than Miro Heiskanen's $8.45 million cap hit. For his part, the 30-year-old Lindell may not be an offensive dynamo, but he has reached the 20-point threshold in each of his last three seasons even without a power-play role.
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