Penguins might already have the steal of the 2025 NHL Draft in Ben Kindel

Not many teams in the NHL entered the 2025-26 season with lower expectations than the Pittsburgh Penguins (8-4-2). While it’s still early in the new campaign, the Pens have already shocked much of the hockey world with their strong start.

They’re still led by veteran superstars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, who continue to produce at an elite level. However, that’s been the case the last several years as well, though the team's success hasn’t followed. What’s different this time around is the jolt of youth around the aging core — particularly the play of rookie sensation Ben Kindel.

The 18-year-old surprised many by making the Penguins roster out of training camp just months after being selected 11th overall in the 2025 draft, a pick that few were fond of at the time. 

It can be rare for a top-three pick to make an immediate impact at the NHL level the following season after being drafted, let alone someone who didn’t even go in the top 10; that’s almost unheard of. Perhaps that’s where other general managers and scouts missed the mark, because Kindel already looks like one of the best players in his draft class and a steal by Kyle Dubas and company at pick 11.

Ben Kindel has more than shown he belongs

Through his first 12 NHL games, Kindel has tallied five points (five goals), which has him tied with first overall pick Matthew Schaefer among all rookies in goal scoring. 

These haven’t been freebies either; three of the five were snipes that beat the likes of Igor Shesterkin, Sergei Bobrovsky and Anthony Stolarz.