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SURPRISE! Penguins Go Off Board, Take Benjamin Kindel; Full Analysis
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- SURPRISE! Penguins Go Off Board, Take Benjamin Kindel; Full Analysis
SURPRISE! Penguins Go Off Board, Take Benjamin Kindel; Full Analysis
The Pittsburgh Penguins didn't appear to be in line to get a center with the 11th overall pick. Jake O'Brien and Roger McQueen were snagged in the picks preceding the Penguins' selection.
And then the Penguins pulled off the first surprise of the 2025 NHL Draft when they went off board and selected spunky two-way center Benjamin Kindel, who plays junior hockey with the Calgary Hitmen of the WHL.
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The word most scouts use regarding Kindel is "competitive," but also undersized. Kindell is 5-foot-10, 176 pounds. Strength is something he needs to improve, as well as puck managment, as he averaged nearly six turnovers per game.
However, skating is a strength.
Kindel is a two-way center who filled the net this season, scoring 35 goals and 99 points. In addition to a high-intensity game, scouts also liked his hockey sense, speed, and anticipation.
The analytics crowd quickly lauded the pick, including ESPN commentator Megan Chayka, who said analytics showed it "was the right pick."
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To wit, Kindel has a high ratio of passes that create Grade A scoring chances (1.91) according to Neutral Zone Scouting . However, he was not rated above 20 by most scouting services.
The Penguins also traded out of the 12th overall pick, swapping picks 22 and 31 with the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for the 12th overall.
The story is breaking, and PHN will update the story with quotes and reaction from the Penguins and Kindel. Below is the scouting and analysis video from Matt Meagher for Pittsburgh Hockey Now:
The post SURPRISE! Penguins Go Off Board, Take Benjamin Kindel; Full Analysis appeared first on Pittsburgh Hockey Now .
