Kindel, Ben #81 (C)  - Pittsburgh Penguins - 2026 Playoffs
Height: 5'11''
Weight: 182 lbs.
Shoots: R
Born on: April 19, 2007
Age: 19
Birthplace: Coquitlam, None
Salary: $0.975M
Cap Hit: $0.975M
NHL.com: Go

Statistics - 2026 Playoffs

GP GM G A Pts +/- PIM PPG PPA SHG SHA GWG S Hits Blks SPCT P/G
1 0 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0.00

Date News Advice
April 14, 2026 Kindel (upper body) will play in Tuesday's road clash against the Blues, per Seth Rorabaugh. - Kindel will return to Pittsburgh's lineup Tuesday after missing the team's previous two contests with an upper-body injury. Overall, the 18-year-old center has 17 goals, 34 points, 150 shots on net, 30 hits and 58 blocked shots across 76 games this season. With Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin set to be healthy scratches for rest purposes, Kindel will likely assume a top-six center role for the team's regular-season finale. None
April 12, 2026 Kindel (upper body) won't play Sunday against the Capitals, the team announced. - It will be a second straight game missed for Kindel, out with an upper-body injury. He's officially day-to-day, so his status for the postseason seems to not be in any danger as it stands currently. The 18-year-old has had an impressive rookie season, posting 34 points (17 goals, 17 assists) in 76 games on the season. His next shot at a return will be Tuesday against the Blues in the regular-season finale. None
April 11, 2026 Kindel (upper body) will not be in the lineup versus Washington on Saturday. - Kindel is without a point in his last five games. The 18-year-old rookie has 17 goals and 17 assists in 76 games this season, after he was selected 11th overall in the 2025 Draft. Kindel could return as early as Sunday in a rematch in Washington. None
March 19, 2026 Kindel scored a goal on two shots in Wednesday's 6-5 overtime loss to the Hurricanes. - Kindel has scored twice over his last four games. The rookie center is up to 17 goals, 32 points, 131 shots on net, 51 blocked shots, 27 hits and a minus-9 rating through 65 appearances. Expect Kindel to play in a third-line role moving forward since Sidney Crosby (lower body) is back in action. None
March 12, 2026 Kindel scored a goal on two shots in Thursday's 6-2 loss to the Golden Knights. - Kindel has two goals and two assists over seven outings in March. He's been under the 15-minute mark in ice time for three straight contests, so it looks like he's lost out on the opportunity to gain playing time while the Penguins' forward group is thinned out by injuries. The team's spot in the playoff race is likely playing a part in that, as the Penguins won't want to put too much pressure on the 18-year-old. He's earned 16 goals, 31 points, 129 shots on net, 49 blocked shots and a minus-9 rating over 62 appearances. Those aren't Calder-worthy numbers, but Kindel's bright future is apparent already. None
March 1, 2026 Kindel scored a goal, distributed an assist, placed three shots on net and recorded two blocked shots in Sunday's 5-0 win over Vegas. - Kindel placed the game's opening tally on the scoreboard with just over five minutes remaining in the first period before later sliding the primary assist on Justin Brazeau's goal late in the third. Overall, Kindel now has 15 goals, 14 assists, 120 shots on net and 47 blocked shots across 56 games this season. The 18-year-old rising star has not only started to find his game offensively with nine points in his last nine games, but he has also thrived defensively and ranks 22nd among NHL forwards in blocked shots. Kindel is a must-roster player in all dynasty formats and he can also make an impact in various standard leagues while his current stretch of play lasts. None
Feb. 5, 2026 Kindel scored two goals in Thursday's 5-2 win over the Sabres. - Kindel's unassisted tally in the second period stood as the game-winner, and he added a shorthanded empty-netter in the third. The latter goal was his first career shorthanded point. The 18-year-old center is up to 14 goals, 27 points, 109 shots on net, 44 blocked shots, 21 hits and a minus-3 rating through 53 appearances. He's surged into the Olympic break with six goals and an assist over his last six outings. None
Feb. 1, 2026 Kindel scored an empty-net goal on five shots in Saturday's 6-5 win over the Rangers. - Kindel's empty-netter ended up being important, as the Rangers scored twice after that goal to pull within one. This was Kindel's second career game-winner, and he's up to 12 goals, 25 points, 103 shots on net, 43 blocked shots and a minus-6 rating through 50 appearances. The 18-year-old ended January hot with four goals and an assist over his last three contests. None
Jan. 29, 2026 Kindel scored a goal and an assist in Pittsburgh's 6-2 win over Chicago on Thursday. - Kindel has four points in his last two games. He had two goals on Sunday. He is now the third 18-year-old to score in consecutive games for the Penguins in the past 35 years. Who are the other two? Sidney Crosby (seven times in 2005-06) and Jordan Staal (four times in 2006-07). Kindel has 24 points (11 goals, 13 assists) in 49 games this season. That puts him in a tie for seventh in the NHL in the rookie scoring chase. None
Jan. 25, 2026 Kindel scored two goals on five shots in Sunday's 3-2 win over the Canucks. - Kindel ended a 19-game goal drought in a big way. He had the Penguins' second and third tallies, and his second goal stood as the game-winner after the Canucks' comeback effort fell short. Kindel is up to 10 goals, 22 points, 97 shots on net, 42 blocked shots, 20 hits and a minus-10 rating over 48 appearances. He's still in a third-line role, but the 18-year-old has already showed some promise as a rookie. None
Jan. 5, 2026 Kindel logged two assists, including one on the power play, and two shots on goal in Sunday's 5-4 overtime win over the Blue Jackets. - Kindel set up Ville Koivunen's opening goal 1:50 into the game and Thomas Novak's power-play tally in the third period. This was Kindel's first multi-point effort since Dec. 14 versus the Mammoth. He's warming up again with four helpers (two on the power play) over his last five outings. For the season, the 18-year-old rookie has contributed 18 points, 79 shots on net, 36 blocked shots, 16 hits and a minus-11 rating through 38 appearances, mainly in a third-line role with power-play time. None
Dec. 15, 2025 Kindel had a goal and two assists in Sunday's 5-4 overtime loss to the Mammoth. - Kindel cracked the scoresheet in back-to-back games for the second time this season, and this was also the first time he posted three points. He previously had two multi-point efforts -- on Nov. 3 against the Maple Leafs and Nov. 6 against the Capitals. Kindel is a promising prospect in the Penguins' system and is showing glimpses of what he can bring to the table this season. He's up to 14 points (eight goals, six assists) in 28 games. None
Dec. 4, 2025 Kindel scored a power-play goal on five shots and blocked two shots in Thursday's 4-3 win over the Lightning. - Kindel stretched the Penguins' lead to 3-0 midway through the second period. He's scored twice over his last three games while continuing to play in a middle-six role. The 18-year-old center is up to seven goals, 10 points, 49 shots on net, 25 blocked shots, 10 hits and a minus-8 rating through 23 appearances. He may sit out occasionally as part of his development plan, but Kindel's quickly established himself as part of the Penguins' system thanks to his willingness to do defensive work. None
Nov. 29, 2025 Kindel scored a goal Saturday in a 7-2 loss to Toronto. - He batted it baseball-style off Scott Laughton's shoulder and past Dennis Hildeby. It came on the power play. In an odd twist, half of Kindel's six goals have come against the Maple Leafs. He put up two in Toronto on Nov. 3. Kindel has nine points -- including six power-play points -- and 42 shots in 21 games this season. Not bad for an 18-year-old who was drafted five months ago. None
Nov. 7, 2025 Kindel notched two power-play assists in Thursday's 5-3 win over Washington. - With injuries piling up for the Penguins, Kindel found himself elevated not only to the first line but also the No. 1 power-play unit, where he is playing with three future Hall-of-Famers. The 18-year-old Kindel didn't look out of place at all, even feeding a cross-ice pass to Sidney Crosby. When the team is fully healthy, Kindel likely will be shifted back to the third-line center role, but he may have secured his place on the top power-play unit with Thursday's performance. None
Nov. 4, 2025 Kindel scored two goals, one on the power play, in Monday's 4-3 loss to the Maple Leafs. - The 18-year-old rookie recorded his first multi-goal performance in the NHL, and Kindel's efforts helped give the Penguins a 3-0 lead heading into the third period, only for everything to come crashing down over the final 20 minutes. Kindel's getting a look on the top power-play unit -- two of his last three tallies have come with the man advantage -- with Rickard Rakell (hand) and Justin Brazeau (upper body) nursing injuries, and his first five NHL points have all been goals. Through his first 12 games, Kindel's added 26 shots on net, 10 blocked shots, eight hits and a minus-1 rating. None

No Injuries found

No suspensions found
Date Opponent State Season
Apr 20 2026 19:00 EDT PHI Pre-game 2026 Playoffs
Apr 22 2026 19:00 EDT at PHI Pre-game 2026 Playoffs
Apr 25 2026 20:00 EDT at PHI Pre-game 2026 Playoffs
Date Opponent Result State G A Pts +/- PIM PPG PPA SHG SHA GWG Shots Hits Blks SPCT TOI
Apr 18 2026 20:00 EDT PHI L 2-3 Final 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 12:58

No Corrections found
Date Key Old Value New Value
2026-04-18 prospect Yes No
2026-04-18 injury_note
2026-04-18 analysis
2026-04-18 update
2026-04-18 Injury Text
2026-04-14 Injury Status DAY-TO-DAY
2026-04-14 Injury Text Upper Body
2026-04-14 Injured No Yes
2026-04-13 Injury Status DAY-TO-DAY
2026-04-13 Injury Text Upper Body
2026-04-13 Injured No Yes
2026-04-12 Injury Status OUT
2026-04-12 Injury Text Upper Body
2026-04-12 Injured No Yes
2026-04-12 Injury Status DAY-TO-DAY OUT
2026-04-12 Injury Status OUT DAY-TO-DAY
2026-04-11 Injury Status OUT
2026-04-11 Injury Text Upper Body
2026-04-11 Injured No Yes
2025-11-17 prospect No Yes
2025-11-17 injury_note
2025-11-17 analysis
2025-11-17 update
2025-11-17 Injury Text
2025-10-15 Weight None lb 182 lb
2025-10-15 Jersey Number 39 81
2025-09-03 Salary Cap Hit $0.000M $0.975M
2025-09-03 Salary $0.000M $0.975M
2025-09-03 Pickable No Yes
2025-07-08 Jersey Number 39
2025-07-08 Active in League No Yes
2025-07-08 Position C
2025-07-08 Franchise 2025 2025 Pittsburgh Penguins