SURPRISE! Penguins Go Off Board, Take Benjamin Kindel; Full Analysis (Updated)

The Pittsburgh Penguins didn’t appear to be in line to get a center with the 11th overall pick. Jake O’Brien and Roger McQueen were snagged in the picks preceding the Penguins’ selection.

And then the Penguins pulled off the first surprise of the 2025 NHL Draft when they went off board and selected spunky two-way center Benjamin Kindel, who plays junior hockey with the Calgary Hitmen of the WHL.

The word most scouts use regarding Kindel is “competitive.” Kindel is a two-way center who filled the net this season, scoring 35 goals and 99 points. In addition to a high-intensity game, scouts also liked his hockey sense, speed, and anticipation. The analytics crowd also quickly lauded the pick, including ESPN commentator Meghan Chayka (Stathletes founder), who said analytics showed it “was the right pick.”

The knocks on Kindel are that he’s a bit undersized. He is 5-foot-10, 176 pounds, and strength is something he will need to improve, as well as puck management. The Penguins ‘ first-round pick averaged nearly six turnovers per game as he led the Hitmen’s attack.

“I always try to model my game after Nick Suzuki, for his hockey sense, vision, and complete game,” Kindel said on the Zoom call from the Draft at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. “The things I’ve got to work on personally, I’d say my overall size and strength, and my straight lines–being in separation.”

However, skating is generally viewed as a strength.

“I’d say I’m a complete player, great hockey sense,” said Kindel when asked to describe his game. “I can score, as well. I take a lot of pride in my defensive game (and) compete hard for pucks and do all the little things.”

To wit, Kindel has a high ratio of passes that create Grade A scoring chances (1.91) according to Neutral Zone Scouting. However, he was not rated above 20 by most scouting services.

Kindel was not necessarily destined to become a hockey player. Born in Coquitlam, British Columbia, he comes from a family of soccer players. Fortunately, fate may have intervened as his dad also became a hockey fan and introduced the game to his son.

“My parents, my whole family, were soccer people, but my dad was a big hockey fan. He put me in it, and I kind of immediately fell in love with the game and just kind of ran with it,” said Kindel. “It’s always been my passion. I played soccer up until I was 16, but hockey was always my passion.”

While scouts and analytics devotees may have lauded the pick, many viewed the Penguins’ pick as a reach. His highest ranking among the notable scouting services was 16th, but the average ranking was in the low 20s. Kindel didn’t mind the role of the underdog in this scenario.

“I think throughout my life, I’ve always kind of had a little bit of a chip on my shoulder, and I think that’s a good thing. Obviously, I try not to pay attention to the mock drafts too much throughout the year,” he said. “I talked to Pittsburgh a little bit throughout the year, and I knew they were somewhat interested. So, I always knew it was possible, and I’m just really excited to move forward with this now.”

The Penguins also traded out of the 12th overall pick, swapping picks 22 and 31 with the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for the 12th overall.

Read More: Penguins Shake Up NHL Draft With Round 1 Trade

Below is the scouting and analysis video from Matt Meagher for Pittsburgh Hockey Now: