Pittsburgh Penguins select an unexpected player in Benjamin Kindel No. 11 overall at 2025 NHL Draft

The Pittsburgh Penguins despite missing the playoffs for the third straight season, now bring young scoring and it has landed them Benjamin Kindel, 18, Center, from the Calgary Hitmen of the Western Hockey League.

Kindel becomes the first Penguins selection since Bob Smith who in the 1967 NHL Draft, who is the only other Penguin to be drafted 11th overall in the history of the franchise.

Kindel came off a draft eligible season with 99 Points, 35 Goals and 64 Assists in the Western Hockey League and had the second highest points in the entire CHL behind Michael Misa. Kris Letang and his son Alex Letang announced the Kindel pick as they welcome him to the Steel City.

Benjamin Kindel was projected to be picked in the 19th or 20th selection, a surprise pick by the Penguins at 11 who had the likes of Victor Eklund and Carter Bear available in the 11th spot.

Benjamin Kindel already has familiar ties with Penguins prospect Tanner Howe who played together in Calgary this past season and had heavy success on and off the ice. Kindel and Howe combined for a +76 plus minus and combined 138 points together in the 2024-2025 season in Calagry.

Kindel's player type has been described as a Heavy Playmaker with good Puckhandling skills and is a Cerebral Tactician on the ice that transforms his game into another level when deployed on the ice in the right situations.

The selection for the Penguins who are undergoing the rebuild with Kyle Dubas the of General Manager and President of Hockey Operations at the helm, who also recently hired Dan Muse and his coaching staff has started the rebuild with the Kindel selection. The Penguins will hope to see proper development in Kindel starting at the Prospect Development Camp on July 3rd to 7th.