Dallas is about to see what it’s got in Esa Lindell.
After putting Jordie Benn on IR and sending Jamie Oleksiak to the AHL on a conditioning stint, the Stars had an opportunity to bring a new d-man into the mix -- so, enter Lindell, the 21-year-old Finn that’s made a name for himself over the last couple of seasons.
A third-round pick in 2012, Lindell first raised eyebrows as part of the Finnish team that captured gold at the 2014 World Juniors, finishing third on the team in scoring while leading the team’s blueline in points, with five.
Last year, he left his SM-liiga club to play for Dallas’ AHL affiliate in Texas.
This year, he’s been arguably Texas’ best player.
Lindell has 25 points in 42 games and was named to the annual All-Star Classic, though it’s unclear now if he’ll be able to participate.
There’s an opportunity in Dallas for some serious minutes -- Benn was averaging just under 16 per night, and the bottom pairing hasn’t really been solidified all season long, as the likes of Oleksiak, Patrik Nemeth and Jyrki Jokipakka have rotated in and out.
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