NewAdvanced stats: sort every skater and goalie by xGF%, GSAx and more, any season since 2008-09 Open stats →
BlueLineMetrics/Players
Loading…
Dallas Stars · left-shot defenseman · age 32

Esa Lindell scouting report

Overall
44.8
Position rank
171st / 327
Cap hit
$5.25M
Expires
2029-30 UFA
Value verdict
Fair
Model value
$4.8M

The Dallas Stars left-shot defenseman carries a 44.8 overall, 171st of 327 rated defensemen, which is roughly league-average for regular NHL minutes.

His best component is penalty killing at 60, with power-play production (23) trailing the rest of his game.

He surged from 47.9 in 2024-25 to 77.1 in 2025-26, one of the bigger jumps in his 10-season card history.

The contract, $5.25M through 2029-30, grades Fair: the model's expected value of $4.8M is within $453K of what he is paid.

His cap hit is the 8th-largest on the Dallas Stars NHL roster and uses 5.0% of the $104M ceiling; the club currently has $1.61M in cap space.

Component ratings

ComponentRating (0-100)
Offense36
Defense56
Play driving32
Finishing53
Power play23
Penalty kill60

Career line

SeasonTeamGPOverallWAR
2025-26DAL8277.1-0.2
2024-25DAL8047.9-0.4
2023-24DAL8265-0.2
2022-23DAL8250.3-0.3
2021-22DAL7646.1-0.4
2020-21DAL5661.2-0.3
2019-20DAL6926-0.8
2018-19DAL8235.9-0.5
2017-18DAL8088.60.1
2016-17DAL7338.6-0.5

Other DAL defensemen by rating: Miro Heiskanen (95.1), Thomas Harley (77.9), Nils Lundkvist (71.7), Kyle Capobianco (54.2). See the full Dallas Stars cap sheet.

How we rate players: each skater's overall is a percentile (0-100) built from offense, defense, play driving, finishing, power-play and penalty-kill impact against players at the same position; goalies are rated on goals saved above expected. Contract value compares the cap hit with the salary the model expects for that level of production, age and position. Figures are updated as new games and signings arrive.