Rookie standout Ben Kindel is right where he wants to be

The locker room gets crowded—not because of a win, but with the heavy weight of a season ending.

Following a stinging loss against the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 6 of the First Round, the Pittsburgh Penguins stood in front of the cameras one last time for this season, united by the quiet, low toned thoughts that they could have done more to force Game 7.

Amid the words and reflection of disappointment and the weight of a First Round exit, one player remains a point of light: rookie Ben Kindel.

"I’m still kind of sick to my stomach," Kindel admitted, the sting of the exit showing. "We have to use it as motivation in the future to do whatever we can to not let it end like that again." Despite the early exit, Kindel’s gaze remained fixed, already motivated for the next season.

Kindel began his Western Hockey League (WHL) career with the Calgary Hitmen in 2023. Following his rookie season, he was added to Canada's U18 World Championships roster.

There, he recorded a goal, six assists and seven points, helping Team canada clinch its third consecutive gold medal at the IIHF U18 Men's World Championship.

Kindel was then drafted out from the Calgary Hitmen as a a top prospect, following a successful 2024-25 season, leading the Hitmen with an astounding 35 goals and 64 assists, totaling 99 points in just 65 games, a scoring pace that secured his jump to the NHL in his first year.

Just months after Penguins Defensman Kris Letang and his son, Alexander, called his name at the 2025 NHL Draft, Kindel made history. On October 7, 2025, against the New York Rangers, he became the fifth-youngest player in franchise history to make his NHL debut.

Four days after his debut, Kindel found the back of the net for the first time. Scoring the Penguins' lone goal against the New York Rangers on October 11, he was named the game's third star, a silver lining on a night where the Penguins fell with 1-6.

Kindel’s best game was on December 14 against the Utah Mammoth. He scored a goal and had two assists, giving him three points in a single night. Even with his great play, it wasn't enough to win, as the Penguins lost in overtime

But the middle of the season became tough for the rookie. Kindel struggled to find the back of the net as he went through a 19-game goal drought. Thankfully, the rookie's positive mindset helped him break the streak on January 25, scoring two goals, helping the Penguins secure the victory against his hometown team, the Vancouver Canucks.

In the final game of the regular season on April 14, Kindel set up a goal for Elmer Soderblom against the St. Louis Blues. It was a strong finish to his first year before heading into the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Kindel didn’t record any goals or assists in the playoffs, but simply making the roster—and the Stanley Cup Playoffs at his age is already a huge achievement. For any rookie, getting playoff experience in your first year is a massive step forward.

"It was a great experience. A lot of fun," Kindel said, reflecting on a debut year that exceeded expectations, including his own. "I love playing for this team. It was great to get a first year under my belt in the NHL and see what it’s like. I think I learned a lot.”

As he reminisced on his rookie year, from getting a golden opportunity for playing alongside Penguins Captain Sidney Crosby to making it to the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, it was clear that while the season ended in a loss, Kindel’s NHL journey is just beginning.

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