PITTSBURGH DRAFTS BENJAMIN KINDEL 11TH OVERALL

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – Friday night marked a major moment in shaping the future of the Penguins organization.

The Pittsburgh Penguins were slated to pick twice, back-to-back in the first round of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Pittsburgh maneuvered its way to dealing its second pick for two later first-round choices, but the Penguins hung onto 11th overall.

And the first new addition to the prospect pipeline is Benjamin Kindell.

11th OVERALL – BENJAMIN KINDEL (C)

Pick one of three on the night for Kyle Dubas and company went to one of the top producers in the Western Hockey League this season. Kindel fell one-point shy of the 100-point plateau this season, good for seventh overall in the WHL.

Kindel is a big-brained playmaker who takes the space you give him and turns it into scoring chances for himself and others. He’ll pick apart defenses both on the rush and on the cycle. He already plays a mature, two-way game as well.

He played both down the middle of the ice and on the wing this season for the Calgary Hitmen. Come playoff time, he racked up eight goals and 15 points in 11 games for Calgary, often playing against top competition.

Kindel will become eligible to play full-time in the AHL starting in the 2027-28 season.

Pittsburgh’s work in the first round isn’t done yet. After a trade with the Philadelphia Flyers that sent the 12th overall pick to the City of Brotherly Love, the Penguins will pick again at 22nd and 31st overall.

Check back here for profiles of the Penguins’ latter two first rounders.

Furthermore, day two of the draft takes place tomorrow, Saturday, June, 28, featuring rounds two through seven. Barring more trades, the Penguins still have eight selections at their disposal. They are currently slated to pick again at 73rd, 84th, 85th, 105th, 130th, 148th, 169th, and 201st overall.