Pittsburgh Penguins center Ben Kindel was the 11th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. He was thought to be a project with a high hockey IQ. He was said to be a couple of years away.
Those thoughts and projections were very wrong. Kindel has steadily improved since the team’s rookie camp in July. He accelerated his growth through preseason, ultimately firmly claiming a prominent role in the Penguins’ lineup as the third-line center.
Coach Dan Muse even started Kindel and fellow rookie Harrison Brunicke on opening night beside Penguins legends Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang.
Saturday, in his third NHL game, Kindel did what he does well. He intercepted a pass at center ice and transitioned to offense.
Kindel, who wears No. 81 as former Penguins winger Phil Kessel once did, streaked down the right wing and whistled a sharp wrister to the far post, past New York Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin at 3:04 of the second period.
Except for the backcheck part, it looked like vintage Kessel, except this is new Kindel.
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