PuckSleuth
81Cap hit
$975K
0.9% of $104M cap
Term
2 yrs
Through 2027-28, then RFA
Clause
None
Surplus value
+$3.985M
vs. $4.96M market estimate
Contract details from our records; public announcement not yet matched
2025-26 regular season
GP
77
Goals
17
11.3% shooting
Assists
18
14 primary
Points
35
0.45 per game
TOI/GP
15:04
PP 1:50 · PK 0:39
xGF%
51.3
5v5
Game Score
-0.04
per game, goals above average
Faceoff %
43.6
283 W · 366 L
Plus/minus
-5
Blocks 58 · Hits 30
Game log
Last 5 games · NHL API
| Game | G | A | SOG | HIT | BLK | TOI | PP | PK | FO | OZS% | GV | TK | +/- | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 29 @ PHI · OTL 1-0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 19:28 | 1:32 | 0:51 | 4-9 | 83 | 1 | 0 | -1 | -0.40 |
| Apr 27 vs PHI · W 3-2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 11:49 | 0:49 | 0:00 | 3-10 | 50 | 1 | 0 | +1 | -0.21 |
| Apr 25 @ PHI · W 4-2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 10:16 | 1:53 | 0:17 | 2-3 | 100 | 0 | 0 | -1 | -0.12 |
| Apr 22 @ PHI · L 5-2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 13:07 | 2:34 | 0:00 | 2-5 | 100 | 0 | 0 | -1 | +0.09 |
| Apr 20 vs PHI · L 3-0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 11:00 | 2:27 | 0:00 | 2-4 | 67 | 1 | 0 | -1 | -0.48 |
GS = our Game Score, goals above average. FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.
Advanced metrics
5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 900 min · percentile vs. NHL forwards
66th percentile
48th percentile
40th percentile
78th percentile
80th percentile
81st percentile
51st percentile
81st percentile
61st percentile
82nd percentile
12th percentile
26th percentile
31st percentile
61st percentile
xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.
Play styleSkilled scoring prospect
Trait percentiles vs. NHL centers · 2025-26
Kindel is an electric offensive player who generates chances through high-volume shooting and excellent rush entry ability, creating a balanced offensive threat from multiple distances. He needs to sharpen his puck management and add more defensive bite to become a complete contributor at center.
- Shooting volume
- 81
- Playmaking
- 69
- Zone entries(est.)
- 87
- Forechecking
- 26
- Physicality
- 32
- Defensive impact
- 36
- Puck management
- 12
- Speed
- 66
Where he shoots from
Slot 45% · Mid-range 38% · Perimeter 17%(219 unblocked shots)
Strengths
- Exceptional zone entry ability in transition, ranking 87th percentile among centers
- Prolific shot-taker with 81st percentile shooting volume and balanced range
- Solid playmaking instincts at 69th percentile with room to grow
Watch-outs
- Puck management ranks only 12th percentile, leading to turnovers and mistakes
- Forechecking effort at 26th percentile limits backchecking impact and defensive value
- Physicality at 32nd percentile means limited ability to protect the puck or win loose battles
Similar style: John Tavares (TOR), Sebastian Aho (CAR)
Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.
Where his Game Score comes from
2025-26 · 77 GP · goals above average
Season total -3.4 goals, or -0.04 per game.
- Even strength offense
- +0.7
- Even strength defense
- -0.3
- Power play
- -1.0
- Penalty kill
- +0.4
- Finishing
- -3.9
- Playmaking
- +0.2
- Penalties
- +1.3
- Faceoffs
- -0.8
Game Score adds up a player's impact in goals compared with an average player given the same ice time: his share of expected goals for and against at even strength, on the power play, and on the penalty kill, plus finishing (goals minus expected goals), primary assists, penalties drawn and taken, and faceoffs. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.
Career stats
From the NHL's player records
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | PPG | PPP | SHG | GWG | SOG | S% | TOI | FO% | GS/GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 77 | 17 | 18 | 35 | -5 | 18 | 4 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 151 | 11.3 | 15:04 | 43.6 | -0.04 |
| 2026-27 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 20.0 | 14:18 | 40.0 | — |
| Career | 2 seasons | 78 | 18 | 18 | 36 | -8 | 18 | 5 | 11 | 1 | 4 | 156 | 11.5 | 15:03 | — |
Seasons traded mid-year show one row per team. GS/GP is our Game Score per game.
Usage
Last game: @ PHI, Sep 30
Not on a regular line last game.
From the NHL's shift chart.
Latest news
Headlines from news outlets and team blogs
- MTL@PIT: Kindel scores PPG against Jakub Dobeš
NHL.com · Oct 4
- Penguins Activate Kindel, Waive Depth Forward
pittsburghhockeynow.com · Oct 4
- Ben Kindel News: Removed from IR
RotoWire · Oct 3
- Penguins activate Ben Kindel from injured reserve, designate David Gustafsson as non-roster
TribLIVE.com · Oct 3
- Penguins activate Ben Kindel, place David Gustafsson on waivers
Daily Faceoff · Oct 3
- Dan’s Daily: EDM Alarmed by Jarry; Trade Costs; Penguins Insider
pittsburghhockeynow.com · Oct 3
- Penguins Practice: Odd Spot for Kindel
pittsburghhockeynow.com · Oct 2
- Penguins Notebook: Kuzmenko Returns, Kindel Still Questionable For Saturday's Home Opener
Yahoo Sports · Oct 2
Sentiment & chatter
Fans
—
Beat writers
—
Media
—
Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.
Recent Game Scores
Last 10 games · goals above average
Average -0.21 per game over these 10.
Skating · NHL EDGE
2025-26, as of Oct 2
- Top speed
- 22.5 mph
- 66th pct
- 20+ mph bursts
- 126
- Hardest shot
- 89.4 mph
- 81st pct
- Distance
- 192.6 mi
- OZ time
- 42.2%
- 51st pct
- DZ time
- 40.4%
Age curve
NHL forwards · production index
At 19, forwards typically produce 88% of their peak (age 24). His contract runs through age 20, when the typical level is 92%.
From 24 seasons of NHL results, adjusted for league scoring and save percentage in each era. Shaded bars are the seasons left on his contract.
Contract by season
2 seasons left
| Season | Team | Cap hit | % of cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | PIT | $975K | 0.9% |
| 2027-28 | PIT | $975K | 0.9% |
RFA after 2027-28. $1.95M in cap hits left. % of cap uses each season's ceiling where the league has set one ($104M this season, $113.5M in 2027-28).