When the NHL suspended the season on March 12 — which feels like longer than 22 days ago — Esa Lindell thought about flying back to Finland immediately with his girlfriend, Anna Virta.

Esa Lindell remembers what Jokerit used to be. Growing up in Helsinki, the Stars defenseman was enamored with the club’s iconic red-and-yellow jerseys: the ones that were at the pinnacle of ...