Ben Kindel’s family and friends undoubtedly had a Dec. 30 trip to the Langley Events Centre planned when this season’s hockey schedules were released, but they’ve had to pivot to a sojourn to Vancouver’s Rogers Arena today instead.
Kindel’s just one of two players from last summer’s NHL Draft to stick in the league full time and the 18-year-old forward from Coquitlam will have a group of 180 supporters or so on hand this afternoon when the Pittsburgh Penguins make their annual visit to face the Vancouver Canucks.
The Penguins used the No. 11 selection to nab Kindel last June, and the common thinking was that Pittsburgh would give him an extended look through training camp and maybe into the regular season before reassigning him to the Calgary Hitmen for a third WHL season.
Defenceman Matthew Schaefer, who went No. 1 overall to the New York Islanders, is the only other full-time regular from this most recent draft. Centre Michael Misa, who was the No. 2 choice by the San Jose Sharks, is back with the club now but only after being lent out to Team Canada for the world juniors.
Kindel made the Penguins find a permanent spot for him. The Hitmen came through town a couple of weeks back to face the Vancouver Giants, and the idea that Kindel might be with them this season was long gone.
Playing at the LEC would have been a milestone a year ago, Kindel admits. Things can certainly change quickly.
“We’ve played a lot of hockey now, so the life kind of settles in,” Kindel said Saturday, when asked about being in the NHL so young. “I’m used to it now. But always games like these ones will be a special. It will be a fun one Sunday.”
He’s the second-youngest player in the NHL this season. He’s five months older than Schaefer.
Kindel made his NHL debut at famed Madison Square Garden, with a game against the New York Rangers on Oct. 7. His parents, Steve Kindel and Sara Maglio, were on hand. They’re both former Vancouver Whitecaps, both still working in youth soccer. Ben’s younger sister, Lacey, 16, is a rising soccer standout, and she and Ben both made their debuts with their respective national team programs in August 2024.
Going into the Vancouver matchup, Kindel was averaging 15 minutes, 31 seconds of time per game, which was fifth highest total among Penguins forwards this season. He had eight goals and 20 points in 47 games.
Ben Kindel of the Pittsburgh Penguins goes for the puck against Yan Kuznetsov of the Calgary Flames in the third period during the game at PPG PAINTS Arena on Jan. 10, 2026, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The 5-foot-11, 182-pound right-shot Kindel has been centring Pittsburgh’s third line of late. He spent time earlier this season playing wing, alongside Sidney Crosby, on the top line. He was getting first-unit power play minutes, too, and was so proficient in that role then that Mark Madden of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review wrote that Kindel’s “puck movement and ability to patiently clear space befits a 10-year veteran,” and that “only Mario Lemieux coming out of retirement again should displace Kindel,” on the man-advantage group.
It’s flashy praise, but it does give some idea of Kindel’s hockey sense and intelligence, which is something he’s always been lauded for.
Crosby told reporters in Pittsburgh earlier this season: “He’s really passionate about the game. He wants to learn. As you can see, he loves being out there. He wants to get better but he also is having fun playing in the NHL as an 18-year-old. It’s a great feeling. It was a long time ago for me, but I remember — it’s the best. You dream of playing in the NHL, and finally you can go out there and do what you love to do. I think he’s making the most of his opportunity, but I don’t think he takes it for granted. I think he knows how much work goes into it, and he’s just trying to get better.”
Kindel was born the same that day that Crosby’s second NHL season came to an end, losing out in a first-round playoff series to the Ottawa Senators. Kindel was about to turn three years old when Crosby scored the Golden Goal at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.
It’s undoubtedly daunting to be 18 and in a dressing room with Crosby, 38, and guys like Evgeni Malkin, 39.
“At first, when you come to camp, for any young player it’s very surreal,” Kindel said. “Once you get to know these guys, they make it very easy. They make it easy to fit in. It’s a testament to the culture in that room.”
Pittsburgh has missed the playoffs the past three seasons, so it’s logical that they wanted to change the mix, bring in some younger players.
Kindel and 19-year-old defenceman Harrison Brunicke made the opening-night roster, marking the first time the Penguins began a season with two teenagers since 2006-07, when Jordan Staal and Kris Letang both stuck to start.
Brunicke was lent out to Team Canada for the world juniors and reassigned afterwards to the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers. The fact that Pittsburgh kept Kindel speaks to what they think he’s capable of doing for the club now.
Pittsburgh woke up Sunday in a playoff spot, holding down second-place in the Metropolitan Division.
Initially, Kindel “wasn’t sure” whether the Penguins would have him head to world juniors.
“I was just trying to play one game at a time. Either way, I would have been happy — compete for my country or stay here and compete for the Penguins,” he said.
Kindel’s offensive flair is clear. He had 35 goals and 99 points in 65 regular season games last season with the Hitmen. He talks about how being responsible defensively and having the trust of the coaching staff is paramount for a young player. He’s worked on that especially with Penguins assistant coach Nick Bonino, 37, the one-time Canucks centre who was known for his all-around game when he played.
Kindel is also staying in a basement suite in Bonino’s house in Pittsburgh.
“It’s been awesome. His family has been great, taking me in,” Kindel said.