Dallas Stars sign Esa Lindell to five-year, $5.25 million AAV extension

The Dallas Stars have locked up one of their defensive pillars as they’ve signed blueliner Esa Lindell to a five-year contract extension which carries $5.25-million average annual value.

ESPN’s Kevin Weekes was the first to report the extension. Lindell, 30, is a former 2012 third-round pick of the Stars. Last season he appeared in all 82 games for Dallas recording five goals and 26 points. He also chipped in with five points in 19 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

Lindell inks his new extension and forgoes his chance to become an unrestricted free agent next summer. He’s signed for the 2024-25 season at a $5.8-million cap hit and takes a bit of a pay cut for some long-term security.

The Vantaa, Finland native has spent his entire nine-year NHL career with the Stars, appearing in 604 career games, while tallying 49 goals and 191 points. Lindell has also been a big part of the Stars’ postseason success, dressing in 85 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

Lindell is known as one of the better defensive defensemen in the league. He averaged 3:32 of ice-time on the penalty kill last season and finished the year blocking 162 shots and landing 75 hits. The Stars’ penalty kill ran at 82% efficiency rating, which ranked them 8th in the NHL in 2023-24.

Heading into this season, Lindell will once again see a ton of ice-time on the re-tooled Stars’ blueline. Dallas’ GM Jim Nill saw Chris Tanev sign in Toronto, meanwhile Nill brought in unrestricted free-agent defensemen Matt Dumba and Ilya Lyubushkin. Both Dumba and Lyubushkin are stay-at-home types who should also help on the penalty kill. The club has yet to come to terms with restricted free-agent defenseman Thomas Harley.

Training camps are opening this week as the new season is on the horizon. Dallas kicks off their preseason schedule on Saturday when they host the St Louis Blues.