By Chris Johnston, Sarah Jean Maher and Mark Lazerus
Defenseman Esa Lindell and the Dallas Stars have agreed to a five-year extension that carries an average annual value of $5.25 million, according to a league source. Lindell was set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2025.
Esa Lindell has agreed to a five-year extension with the #stars carrying a $5.25M AAV, foregoing the chance to test unrestricted free agency next summer.
First to report: @KevinWeekes
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) September 17, 2024
Lindell, 30, will be entering the final season of a six-year, $34.8 million deal with the Stars. His new deal will carry over to the 2029-30 season.
The NHL veteran scored five goals and 26 points over a full 82-game season in 2023-24 and added five points in 19 playoff games, helping the Stars to the Western Conference final where they fell to the Edmonton Oilers in six games.
The Vantaa, Finland native was selected by the Stars in the third round (No. 74) of the 2012 NHL Draft and is set to begin his 10th season with Dallas. He’s appeared in 604 regular-season contests over which he’s recorded 49 goals and 191 points.
Lindell isn’t the flashiest player, but his steady defensive play has been one of Dallas’ linchpins for years. With frequent partner Jani Hakanpää and trade-deadline acquisition Chris Tanev both off to Toronto, the Stars will lean on Lindell in a shutdown role as much as ever this season.
The Stars have had a top-10 penalty kill for seven consecutive seasons, and no player has spent more time on that PK in that period than Lindell, in the regular season and the playoffs. Last year, he averaged a team-high 3:32 on the kill. No other returning Stars player averaged even one minute.
Dallas signed free agents Matt Dumba and Ilya Lyubushkin to replenish that unit.
Of course, with another year left on Lindell’s current contract, more pressing for general manager Jim Nill is dynamic 23-year-old blueliner Thomas Harley, who is still without a deal for this season as training camp approaches. Harley, a first-round pick in 2019, had a breakout season with 15 goals and 32 assists, though his offense dried up in the postseason (four assists in 19 games).
(Photo: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)
