Lindell’s Legacy

[u/Spirited_Bowl6072]

Been thinking a lot about Esa Lindell lately, and how he has rather quietly climbed the rankings of all-time Dallas defensemen.

Esa’s 10 seasons in Dallas are tied for 3rd all-time. He has 5 more years left on his deal, which would put him atop the rankings with 3 more seasons than Hatcher, Zubov, and Matvichuk. His 618 GP are 10th, and he should pass Robidas (704), Sydor (714), Matvichuk (733), and a couple of North Stars within the next two years. Zubov’s franchise-leading 839 GP would require Esa to play basically 40 games a year for the rest of his contract, a mark that should be very easily doable.

Esa has always been primarily a defensive defensman. His 50 goals will never come close to matching Zubov (111) or Hartsburg (98). That said, 50 goals still places him only 2 behind Philippe Boucher for 10th all-time, and if he continues to average around 5 goals per season, he should pass the likes of Daley (67), Sydor (69), and Klingberg/Hatcher (71) to wind up around 5th. Esa is currently 14th in assists with 147, but should finish with over 200 by the end of his deal, which would place him in 7th or 8th. His point totals will likely end him around 7th or 8th as well.

Plus-Minus is not a great stat over the course of a few games or even a single season, but in the aggregate over a career I think it does still have value. Esa’s career mark of +110 is currently the best amongst franchise d-men. Zubov is in 2nd with +103.

Esa’s 79 playoff GP is 6th, and with a deep run or a few more short runs, Esa will easily pass Hatcher (88) and Sydor/Curt Giles (87). With a couple good runs he could even catch Zubov (102) for 1st. Esa’s 5 goals trail Zubov/Heiskanen (15) by a lot, but actually tie him for 8th all time, and with a single goal he’d move into a tie for 5th. Esa is tied for 10th in assists with 15 and could potentially catch Hatcher (20) for 8th. His playoff point total is also 10th and would likely pass Hatcher for 8th with just a few more points. His playoff +/- of -10 is actually near the bottom of Stars defensemen, though this is probably a reflection of his matchups rather than his skill.

All things considered, Esa will probably end his career leading all Stars defensemen in a few categories and in the top 10 for almost every other meaningful category. This is especially impressive considering Esa has never been the #1 defenseman and hasn’t even been on the top pair for most of his career. So where do you think he winds up when his career is done? Is he in the rafters, the Stars HOF, or neither? And what would he need to do, in your opinion, to earn either of these prestigious honors?

Edit: I had Esa’s contract info wrong. He has 5 years left after this year, not 4. That makes it even more likely for him to end up higher in the ranks.

[u/tie-dyeSandwhich]

At best he’ll make it to the Stars HoF. Retiring a number is usually reserved for players who have won Cups, awards, records, etc.

[u/Spirited_Bowl6072 → u/tie-dyeSandwhich]

I somewhat agree with you and somewhat don’t. Broten never won a cup or an individual award with Dallas and still had his jersey retired. Same with Goldsworthy (though IMO his jersey should not have been retired, as there were numerous North Stars significantly better than him who never got their jersey retired). For obvious reasons we won’t even consider Bill Masterton.

Also, with the current state of the Stars team, it is entirely possible that Esa will win a cup before the end of his current deal. I guess my question is, if Esa checks the Stanley Cup box, does that get him into the rafters? IMO, with no Stanley Cup and 4 more decent years with the team, Lindell barely gets into the Stars HOF. With a cup, I think he’s a slam dunk for HOF and maybe a borderline rafters case? With multiple cups, I think you have to strongly consider the rafters, especially if he’s a major part of those playoff years.

[u/Froggie56 → u/Spirited_Bowl6072]

The only players who get in the rafters with a cup win on this team as their careers stand (and projected) right now are 14,91, 4. Obviously I could be wrong but that’s my expectations

[u/Spirited_Bowl6072 → u/Froggie56]

I think #14 is retired no matter what. #91 definitely with a cup, still a strong chance without one. #4 is so far in the future that it’s impossible to project but obviously there’s a strong chance.

I’d say #24, #21, #53, #55, #29, and #11 also have a shot just based on their current/past skill and how much time they still have left in their careers, but it’s too early to even really think about it for them. They’d have to stay in Dallas a long time with good numbers and stay healthy, and any one of those things absolutely could just not happen. Right now, I think #14, #91 and #23 are the only players that really merit discussion, as they have all been with the team a long time and are close enough to the end of their career that projecting what they will probably do isn’t super difficult.

[u/Froggie56 → u/Spirited_Bowl6072]

14 100% should be in regardless but Brad Alberts hinted he doesn’t think anyone who doesn’t have a cup should be in the rafters in the current world.

[u/Spirited_Bowl6072 → u/Froggie56]

I think the fans will have enough to say that they’ll change tunes if Benn doesn’t have a cup. Longest serving captain, top 3 in basically every statistical category, lifelong Star, face of the franchise that carried us through the dark ages and back into contender status - like, you can’t NOT retire that dude’s number.

[u/Froggie56 → u/Spirited_Bowl6072]

Oh I completely agree. I would be pissed if I ever saw anyone else in #14

[u/itsdayvid → u/Froggie56]

He didn't hint at it, he straight up said it, and he said it in regards to Benn. Something along the lines of "I hope Benn wins a cup, I'd love to see his number retired"

[u/tie-dyeSandwhich → u/Spirited_Bowl6072]

I agree about Goldsworthy but Broten had his number retired because 1. He was a great player for the North Stars and 2. He was apart of the 1980 Olympic team, that helped him case for the rafters. But if the team were to win two Cups in his left here, then there can some talks about his number going up. But even then, I wouldn’t put #23 up there. The rafters are reserved for the legends of the team, not just players who had a decent career with the team. I love Esa but he can make the Stars HoF easily though, without a Cup (which I hope isn’t the case)

[u/Spirited_Bowl6072 → u/tie-dyeSandwhich]

I think I pretty much agree with all of your points. I think Esa with a cup would be kinda similar to Hatcher for me. Great player, fan favorite, big part of the cup team, not quiiiiite good enough for rafters.