Pittsburgh Penguins forward Ben Kindel exceeded all expectations during his rookie season last year.
Kindel was selected 11th overall in the 2025 NHL Draft and was slated to play for the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen until he showed up to training camp and blew everyone away. He kept getting better and better during practices before he got more reps in preseason games.
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The Penguins’ coaching staff and management wanted to test him, and he passed each one with flying colors. He was repeatedly one of the Penguins’ best players in the preseason and did enough to make the opening-night roster.
He made his NHL debut against the New York Rangers on Oct. 7, and you could tell right away that he was ready for the moment. He was outstanding defensively and even had some nice extended offensive zone shifts.
Kindel then scored his first NHL goal against the Rangers on Oct. 11 before scoring his second goal against the Florida Panthers on Oct. 23. By that point, it was pretty easy to see that he was going to stay beyond the nine-game trial. His hockey IQ, playmaking ability, goal scoring, and defensive play were all on display in those nine games.
He stayed for the rest of the season and was fantastic, finishing with 17 goals and 35 points in 77 games. He was on a pitch count at first until Penguins head coach Dan Muse realized that he was too important to keep out of the lineup. He was also continuing to get more comfortable against NHL players.
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Yes, Kindel slowed down at the end of the season and went pointless in the playoffs, but it’s important to remember that he’s only 19. Last season was the most games he has played in a season. The NHL season is a grind for a reason.
He’s now had the chance to go through a full NHL offseason workout routine and will be bigger and stronger for the upcoming season. He’s slated to start as the third-line center again behind Sidney Crosby and Tommy Novak. Evgeni Malkin might get some reps as the second-line center as well.
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Having Kindel be the third-line center for at least one more season makes a ton of sense. He can continue to handle those same responsibilities before he gets a more elevated role later in his career. I still see him as a long-term second-line center, but there’s no need to rush it for the sake of it.
I think there’s a decent chance he hits 20 goals and 40-45 points this season, especially if he takes another step and gels with his linemates. It makes a ton of sense to have Nick Robertson and Andrei Kuzmenko on his line since they’re both proven goal scorers and can make opposing goaltenders pay quickly.
Kindel will also get time on both special teams units, specifically the power play. He spent 140:31 on the man-advantage last season and was a mainstay on the second unit. Four of his 17 goals and six of his 18 assists came on the PP.
He’ll definitely be on the second unit again this upcoming season and will likely see some time on the first unit if/when injuries arise.
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Kindel is a major part of the Penguins’ future and is already well ahead of schedule. He has the opportunity to build on that when the 2026-27 season starts at the end of September.
(Data via Natural Stat Trick).
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