Benjamin Kindel and Harrison Brunicke have been beneficial additions to the Penguins so far this season. In the games they have played, they made such heavy amounts of good contributions which has led to on ice success.
Kindel at only 18 years of age has shown such maturity and attributes that will help him succeed at the NHL for years to come. Brunicke already looks like a sizzled veteran and fits right into that right handed third defensive pairing. He has been tasked with having to carry the load of that pairing and manage the weight of playing at the NHL level at the same time.
Kindel with his small sample size leads the penguins in xGF percentage in five on five play. In simpler terms means he is leading the team in expected goals for while on the ice during five on five play and leads the penguins in that category with under 10 NHL games under his belt.
Kindel also is at a 46.30 percentage at the face-off dot and is averaging around 13:34 minutes of TOI per game which is a lot to take on as a rookie with such responsibility at such a time to start the season. Kindel with the injury of Rickard Rakell has now seen him all of a sudden seem him be pushed up to power play line one and is another shot to showcase his wicked shot and allows him to have another opportunity to put the puck in the back of the net.
Coach Muse clearly has trust in Ben and understands his strengths and weaknesses as they continue his rookie season past the nine game trial as indicated today in a post practice interview with Kindel.
Harrison Brunicke is set to be on the first defensive pairing with 2025 1st overall pick Matthew Schaefer at the 2026 World Juniors. Brunicke also has been talked and sought out about so highly by coach muse and his clear understanding of his role at that third defensive pairing slot.
Coach Muse and POHO and GM Kyle Dubas have recently and consistently talked about the load management and milestones they have for both players as they continue their rookie seasons here for the penguins.
""The goal this season for them, is to start from making the team to Game one to Nine game trial threshold, then to the world juniors, to then get them to that 40 game threshold.""Dubas on the Milestone goal for rookies.
Coach Muse spoke about how there are a lot of factors and decisions that are best in the eyes of management and the players in the development plan they have for both of the young rookies. He touched on how he is behind Kyle Dubas's plan and he knows that this is a organizational choice/decision.
""These decisions are what is best for the long term plan for an 18-year-old and 19-year-old player that have cracked this lineup.""Muse on the plan for the rookies
From the bird's eye view we all see right now, it seems as they are approaching a method for the players that see's them at a play three games sit one. That is an observation but that seems to be what is going on.
Ben Kindel in an exclusive interview after practice before their game against St. Louis which resulted in a 6-3 win, he explained what himself and Harrison are doing during a development game or two off.
""There's a lot of different things that go into it, get a few days in where we get heavy lifts in the weight room then extra development work on the ice after. Other days is more film and watching the game and seeing it from a different view.""Kindel on being asked about the plan
From Kindel's words it seems that HCDM wants both Kindel and Brunicke to put on even more size and prepare to stay and play past those nine games and have their bodies ready for a full season with these development days/games of NHL work.