What they’re saying: Penguins draft Benjamin Kindel

Instant reactions from the Pens’ first pick in the 2025 draft

The Penguins went a little off the board last night to select Ben Kindel with the 11th overall pick. Here are some reactions in the aftermath of that decision.

Jesse Marshall

ESPN:

Scouting notes: Kindel is a scoring machine. Following a 60-point rookie campaign in the WHL in 2023-24, he vaulted into elite status this season, finishing seventh in overall scoring, and was excellent at even strength.

Though undersized, Kindel blends pace, vision and quality instincts, and he projects to be a middle-six winger with two-way ability. Kindel’s motor is relentless, which makes up for his lack of speed, and enables him to weave through traffic and execute give-and-go’s with ease. A dual-threat attacker, he pairs an accurate shot with dangerous passing ability. His elite hockey sense allows him to consistently outsmart opponents and set teammates up with creative plays in dangerous areas with time and space, while playing positionally sound hockey off the puck.

Defensively and on the forecheck, Kindel leverages his intelligence, anticipation and effort to win battles despite size disadvantages. He’ll need to refine and improve his skating posture and puck control, while adding another speed gear to succeed in the NHL.

While the potential exists for Kindel to a top-six NHL player, he is more likely to find himself in the middle-six as a complementary piece.

How he fits: Kindel is a facilitator of offense, a brilliant playmaker and somewhat of a surprise at No. 11. Kindel brings high-end hockey sense to identify opportunities to set up teammates in space. He’s undersized, but his package of speed, playmaking and relentless motor should translate well to the NHL.

Kindel’s ceiling is a second-line center who facilitates for his teammates and drives play. If he doesn’t, he’s likely to be a middle-six, secondary producer who plays on the second power-play unit. The Penguins need players who are cerebral, skate well and drive offense — and are certainly swinging on Kindel’s ceiling. If he grows an inch or two as he develops over the next two years, the comparable to Brayden Point is a good one given the similarities in skating, cerebral play, and driving play at that size.

Bleacher Report

Strengths: Hockey sense, creativity
Weaknesses: Consistency, decision-making on occasion
B/R Rank: 20
Pick Grade: B-

Analysis: Calgary Hitmen forward Benjamin Kindel nearly broke the 100-point mark (only one shy) in 65 games this season, and when you take a closer look at his skill set, that’s not a surprise. The Penguins went off the board with selecting Kindel here, but without the pick location in the equation, I cannot fault them for taking him. Kindel has raw skill and creativity coming out his ears, and if there’s any team that can help that talent develop, it’s the Penguins. Still, there’s a lot of talent left on the board here.

As far as pure raw skill and potential go, Kindel has it in spades. Can he put those tools together on a nightly basis at the professional level? That remains to be seen.

His high-end hockey sense is a highlight for me. Kindel can create for himself and teammates, but he’s also engaged physically, battling for the puck and backchecking. Strength is not a strong suit currently, and I would like to see him improve his shot. I also think there’s a layer of deception he could add to his game; he has the creativity and hockey sense required if he can use them efficiently at the game’s top speeds. Decision-making will hopefully mature with time, but right now, there are occasions where it feels lacking.

USA Today

Another reach here, this time from the Penguins. Kindel is an undersized scoring threat who will need a bit of room to grow but can play down the middle, which is a need for this Penguins squad that is just a few shades away from rebuilding. Still, general manager Kyle Dubas left a lot of talent on the board here for a legitimate reach player.

Grade: B-

Yahoo!

Kindel is an intelligent, tactical forward who moves quickly and has the passing ability right up there with almost anyone in the draft. He pressures puck carriers on the breakout and forces mistakes. Kindel reads the ice so well, exploiting gaps in coverage and small mistakes by finding teammates in prime position to score. If he fills out, he could have some interesting upside.

Corey Pronman, The Athletic:

Tier: Middle of the lineup player

Player comparable: Robby Fabbri

Analysis: Kindel was one of the best forwards in the WHL this season. He’s small but checks every other box you want. He’s a very good skater with the first few steps and top speed to play at the higher levels. He’s a skilled, creative offensive player who sees the ice well and has scored in large numbers in junior. He creates well on the move and has a direct style of offense. I wouldn’t describe him as the typical small, dynamic offensive player you would see as a projected NHL player. Rather, I think he could make it because of his talent plus his work ethic. Kindel is a diligent player away from the puck who gives a strong effort at both ends of the ice. He projects as a middle-six winger.

Pick grade: C

Thoughts on the pick: The Penguins deliver the first big surprise of the night, taking the highly skilled, intelligent and competitive Kindel at 11. He was one of the best forwards in the WHL this season, but he’s on the smaller side, and there are mild questions on whether he’s truly special enough of a talent for his frame. Some people do believe in him, but I never heard from even his biggest fans who projected him at this range of the draft, and I never saw that in my viewings either. This seems aggressive on a small winger without elite skating.

You never know what might happen in the future when it comes to NHL prospects. For proof of that, look no further than the last time before this when Kyle Dubas drafted a player in the first round it was Brayden Yager in 2023. Yager was traded a year later before turning pro.

It’s safe to say that Pittsburgh liked Kindel much more than many in the pre-draft process. That’s because he fits the Kyle Dubas / Wes Clark (VP, Player Personnel) profile. Kindel has talent but he works hard defensively, being compared in style to a Nick Suzuki or Brayden Point type of player that hunts pucks when he doesn’t have it and creates offense when he does as a smaller right handed center. Several reports laud his intelligence and feel for the game, which is a staple of players that Dubas/Clark tend to love, even if they aren’t the biggest.

Kindel is versatile and can shift to wing, which he might have to do since he is not a plus skater and doesn’t have traditional center size. By putting up 99 points in the WHL in his draft year, Kindel has shown some legit offensive chops through his puck skills giving the possibility of a high ceiling if his game translates moving up the ranks in the years to come.

Not many had him going off the board at 11th overall. We had a feeling it could be an off-the-board WHL type of pick consistent with Dubas’s history, but missed the mark going with Cole Reschny in our mock. Turns out it was Kindel that was the Pens’ guy. The thing about draft grades is that no one is going to put much stock in them three or five years down the line if it ends up turning out dramatically different from initial expectations. Only time will tell what happens for the future of the Pens and one of their new prime prospects.