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Report: Penguins Tried to Trade Up in Draft to Select One Specific Player
The Pittsburgh Penguins took Benjamin Kindel with the 11th pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, but were reportedly willing to trade up to make sure they got him.
The 11th pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft went to the Pittsburgh Penguins, and they took forward Benjamin Kindel of the WHL's Calgary Wranglers.
Pittsburgh's Aggressive Draft Strategy Revealed
Kindel has had no problem producing points, as he had 99 points (35G, 64A) in 65 games with the Wranglers last year.
Per a report from Matt Vensel of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Penguins were willing to trade up in the Draft to make sure they could take Kindel.
The Penguins had conviction with Kindel and took him ahead of consensus. There were actually whispers that they tried to move up a few spots to ensure they landed him. Given that it was viewed as a reach, at least among fans and media, Kindel will be under a lot of scrutiny over the next 18 months.
Why the Penguins Were Sold on Kindel's Upside
The Penguins are going to inevitably have several major names moving on in the near future, which will include Evgeni Malkin and, though nobody wants to think about it yet, Sidney Crosby.
If Kindel proves capable of repeating his high-scoring ways in the NHL, it could help make up for offense lost in the future.
His scouting report via Elite Prospects reads as follows:
Pace, vision, and translatability are Kindel's calling cards. With feet that never stop moving, he weaves through traffic, draws defenders, and works give-and-gos. In a single rush, he builds several passing plays and then escapes the wall for a chance. A skillful mid-range shooter and even more dangerous passer, he brings dual-threat scoring ability.
Kindel will be at Penguins training camp this month but is likely to start the year again in the WHL.
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 6 | 30 ANSWERS Report: Penguins Tried to Trade Up in Draft to Select One Specific Player Did the Penguins make the right choice by taking Benjamin Kindell with the 11th pick? | ||
| Yes | 19 | 63.3 % |
| No | 11 | 36.7 % |
| List of polls | ||