Confirmed with Link: Esa Lindell six-year contract extension with an AAV of $5.8M

[David Castillo]

Lindell has been the team's best PKer for a bit now, and while he's not perfect, and can give you quality minutes.

Lindell has played a lot on the PK. That doesn't make him good. Here is his shot quality defense from season to season (per hockeyviz):
2020-2021: xGA/60 8.02
2019-2020: xGA/60 7.26
2018-2019: xGA/60 7.32
2017-2018: xGA/60 6.08
2016-2017: xGA/60 8.02

His best season in bold only broke average compared to the typical minute munching PK'er. Turns out, maneuverability can be important in the defensive zone. "If he's a good hitter why doesn't a hit good?"

 

[Troy McClure]

Lindell has played a lot on the PK. That doesn't make him good. Here is his shot quality defense from season to season (per hockeyviz):
2020-2021: xGA/60 8.02
2019-2020: xGA/60 7.26
2018-2019: xGA/60 7.32
2017-2018: xGA/60 6.08
2016-2017: xGA/60 8.02

His best season in bold only broke average compared to the typical minute munching PK'er. Turns out, maneuverability can be important in the defensive zone. "If he's a good hitter why doesn't a hit good?"

But Lindell eating up massive PK minutes also help the team in a couple of ways. For one, who else do you want playing those minutes? And also him gobbling up those minutes helps keep Klingberg and Heiskanen fresher for other situations where they can do more with the puck. We don't want those two getting tuckered out on the PK.

 

[LT]

Sometimes they do need that, yes, but it's not worth $5.8M a year. Someone mentioned Pesce in this thread, he makes about $4M a year and he's better than Lindell is in the same role.

Pesce signed that contract right off of his ELC and it bought mostly RFA years. He also didn't look as good as Lindell did when they each signed those respective contracts.

It's very easy to pull a fantastic contract as a comparable. Pesce's is comparable to Klingberg's deal, not Lindell's.

Something more like Spurgeon's previous deal (the 5M AAV one), Brodin, Pelech, Parayko - these are much better comparables for Lindell's contract, and he comes in a bit high for those but nothing unreasonable.

 

[LT]

But Lindell eating up massive PK minutes also help the team in a couple of ways. For one, who else do you want playing those minutes? And also him gobbling up those minutes helps keep Klingberg and Heiskanen fresher for other situations where they can do more with the puck. We don't want those two getting tuckered out on the PK.

Right - someone has to play those minutes. Someone who's playing mostly a defensive role is obviously going to have poorer possession stats.

A team can't expect to just have the puck all 60 minutes and never expect to have to play defense.

 

[Captain Awesome]

Pesce signed that contract right off of his ELC and it bought mostly RFA years. He also didn't look as good as Lindell did when they each signed those respective contracts.

It's very easy to pull a fantastic contract as a comparable. Pesce's is comparable to Klingberg's deal, not Lindell's.

Something more like Spurgeon's previous deal (the 5M AAV one), Brodin, Pelech, Parayko - these are much better comparables for Lindell's contract, and he comes in a bit high for those but nothing unreasonable.

Most of the guys you listed have some sort of offensive upside, or are just straight better than Lindell. You are more or less convincing me that it is, indeed, a terrible contract. I'd be f***ing thrilled to have most of those players over Lindell for the same contract amount.

But Lindell eating up massive PK minutes also help the team in a couple of ways. For one, who else do you want playing those minutes? And also him gobbling up those minutes helps keep Klingberg and Heiskanen fresher for other situations where they can do more with the puck. We don't want those two getting tuckered out on the PK.

Well sure, but wouldn't it be good if he were actually above average at it, especially at his price point? Again, you can pay a lot less for the type of player Lindell is.

 

[David Castillo]

But Lindell eating up massive PK minutes also help the team in a couple of ways. For one, who else do you want playing those minutes? And also him gobbling up those minutes helps keep Klingberg and Heiskanen fresher for other situations where they can do more with the puck. We don't want those two getting tuckered out on the PK.

Sure. You can argue a butterfly effect significance on other players, but that doesn't mean we have to pretend like Lindell is actively good on the PK. Moreover, the PK has been below average for two seasons straight. It's not all Lindell's fault obviously, but maybe not asking one guy to do all the heavy lifting on an underperforming unit is something they should better manage.

 

[Troy McClure]

Sure. You can argue a butterfly effect significance on other players, but that doesn't mean we have to pretend like Lindell is actively good on the PK. Moreover, the PK has been below average for two seasons straight. It's not all Lindell's fault obviously, but maybe not asking one guy to do all the heavy lifting on an underperforming unit is something they should better manage.

But we aren't talking a butterfly effect. We're talking about the reality of having to give guys jobs. If not Lindell playing all of those PK minutes last season, who is? Hanley?

With Suter on the roster now, I bet we see a change in those minutes.