Ben Kindel, Pittsburgh Penguins
A quick Google news search shows that no one has so far put Pittsburgh Penguins rookie forward Ben Kindel and the Calder Trophy in the same sentence. So let this be the first.
There. We said it.
Kindel is having the sort of start to the season that could inject him into the conversation when it comes to contenders for the Calder, which goes to the top NHL rookie.
There seems to be a bumper crop of rookies this season. A couple others who have been mentioned the most so far — Matthew Schaefer of the New York Islanders and forward Ivan Demidov of Montreal — are already considered top contenders.
Schaefer, the first overall pick in the 2025 draft, has been impressive for an 18-year-old defenseman, including five goals, 11 points in 15 games. Demidov, who turns 20 in December and had a strong season in the KHL in his native Russia last season, was the fifth overall selection in the 2024 draft. He has four goals, 13 points in 15 games this season.
But why not Kindel as the season unfolds? The 18-year-old had a strong training camp, made the team, survived the nine-game threshold for being sent back to juniors so that his entry-level contract has kicked in, and has five goals (tied for second among eligible rookies), seven points in 15 games. He’s solidly a regular in the Penguins’ lineup.
Kindel made it onto some lists of rookies to watch going into this season, but you had to scroll down. That was before any of them played a game in 2025-26.
One thing holding Kindel back could be that he was widely considered a stretch when the Penguins selected him 11th overall in the June draft. But it’s unfair for anyone to put their thumb on the scale based on pre-draft rankings at this point.
Kindel is proving Penguins president of hockey operations/general manager Kyle Dubas and his staff right with every passing day in terms of being worthy of being a top-15 pick, and it’s only the first half of November.
If being on a good team is considered part of the criteria for being a Calder contender — and really, it shouldn’t be — then the Penguins are holding up their end as a team so far.
There just doesn’t seem to be any reason to think that Kindel could prove a worthy contender for the Calder even for those who had preconceived notions about who the top rookies would or should be coming into the season.
It’s not just Kindel’s point production, although that should be enough to turn a few heads.
It’s also his poise, his vision on the ice, his shot, his defensive awareness, his ability to not only hold his own but thrive in situations such as being on the top power play with future Hall of Famers, and on the top line alongside Sidney Crosby recently with others hurt. He even says all the right things in interviews.
Kindel has spent a lot of the season as the Penguins’ third-line center. That’s no knock against him, especially when the top two are Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. And Kindel has often carried that third line, with wingers who haven’t necessarily been his equal this season.
The Calder race could end up including several top contenders. Some other early names to watch besides Kindel, ,Schaefer and Demidov are Jimmy Snuggerud of St. Louis, Alexander Nikishin of Carolina, Zeev Buium of Minnesota, Beckett Sennecke of Anaheim and Oliver Kapanen of Montreal.
The season also could see any of them, or others, jump up after hot streaks, or cool off after growing pains or injuries — Kindel dodged the latter Sunday after he was crunched against the boards by Los Angeles’ Brandt Clarke but returned to the game.
Approaching the quarter pole of the season, Kindel would seem to have all the goods to contend.
The testimonials have poured from the Penguins organization regarding Kindel.
Just last week, top-line winger Bryan Rust took his turn.
“He’s been awesome,” Rust said of Kindel. “He’s going out there. He’s working hard. He’s an extremely smart kid. Knows where to be on the ice. Knows which plays to make. And when you combine that intelligence with his skill level, obviously good things are going to happen.”
Like becoming a legitimate, recognized Calder Trophy contender? Sure, why not?
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