The Penguins have gotten more than they could have asked for out of young 18-year-old Ben Kindel already this season. The season is 11 games young, and the forward has played 9 games already and is getting set to play his tenth in their upcoming game against the Minnesota Wild.
And nearing the tenth game for someone of his age especially after just getting drafted in 2025, comes a huge decision. Penguins head coach Dan Muse and general manager Kyle Dubas have a huge decision to make very soon, but it seems like that decision has already been made.
If Kindel were to play his tenth NHL game without being sent back to his junior team, it were to burn a year off of his entry-level contract. And when the Penguins took line rushes on Thursday morning ahead of their road contest against the Minnesota Wild, Kindel was in his usual spot as third-line center taking rushes with Tommy Novak and Ville Koivunen.
Good morning from the artist formerly known as Xcel Energy Center (now Grand Casino Arena). @penguins on the ice for a full morning skate after a day off yesterday.
— Josh Getzoff (@JG_PxP) October 30, 2025
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With Kindel taking line rushes and being confirmed to be in the lineup by Muse, the decision seems to have already been made. It seems like Kindel will be staying with the Penguins for the entirety of the 2025 NHL season and burn that first year off of his ELC.
Dan Muse said Ben Kindel will play his 10th NHL game tonight.
— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) October 30, 2025
"It's another checkpoint. We're going to continue to evaluate and to work with him, using all departments and resources we have to make sure everything we're doing is the best thing for him now and for the future."
This is the best decision that Muse and Dubas could have made. Kindel has been one of the Penguins best players game in and game out on a daily basis. Every time he is out there, he is making super smart reads and smart clears and just driving play into the opponents end of the ice.
He is a difference maker and to think that he was drafted 11th overall this year and is still in the NHL lineup for the Penguins, says a lot about what the coaching staff thinks about him and the kind of player he is. The Penguins hit an absolute homerun with this pick, Dubas nailed it.
And with Muse at the helm, Kindel is going to continue to develop into a very good NHL player in the future. He is already a good player but staying with the team the whole year, is great for his development.