​Ben Kindel has spent the off-season in his native Vancouver, focusing on preparation for the 2026-27 campaign. His practice group drew some unfortunate headlines when Conor Bedard sustained an injury that required shoulder surgery, delaying Bedard’s availability at the start of the season. Kindel, in contrast, has not encountered such problems, and his form looks encouraging as he trains ahead of the new year.
One of the most compelling questions for the Penguins next season is Kindel’s exact role in the lineup. Evgeni Malkin, who was already trending away from being a pure center before his injury last season, saw his faceoffs per month decline from 102 in October to 90 in November. After returning from injury in January, he shifted to the wing for the remainder of the year. With Malkin approaching his 40th birthday and Kyle Dubas signaling that Malkin’s responsibilities must adapt to a changing reality, it seems increasingly likely that his days as a full-time center are behind him.
That development places the Penguins in a tricky spot, trying to fill the center position between Sidney Crosby on the top line and Blake Lizotte on the fourth line. Tommy Novak is a natural center from his junior days but has largely settled into a winger role in the NHL. Rickard Rakell has shown a similar tendency in recent seasons. Along with Kindel, these players represent the current pool the Penguins can lean on for midfield contributions.
In terms of classification, Kindel’s status as a “second” or “third” liner is less meaningful when considering actual ice time and usage, as Dan Muse’s system emphasizes roles over rigid line designations. Last season, as an 18-year-old rookie, Kindel logged an average of 12:36 of even-strength ice time per game, ranking eighth among regular Penguins forwards in that category. Tommy Novak posted 13:06 (sixth), while Egor Chinakhov averaged 13:36 (fifth). Ninth-ranked Justin Brazeau played 11:37 per game, and he was just ahead of the fourth-line core of Blake Lizotte (11:20) and Connor Dewar (11:13). If the Penguins maintain a philosophy that relies on mid-line depth, expected ice time for players in that middle tier would hover around 12 to 14 minutes per game, and Kindel would likely fall within that range again.
The more telling question may be whom Kindel will skate with and in what capacity. Last season, Kindel’s most frequent 5-on-5 partners were Brazeau, Anthony Mantha, Ville Koivunen, Rutger McGroarty, and Novak—names that point to a third-line profile with a broad mix of experience and skill. If Kindel is cast into a role that places him on a higher-scoring line, he could line up alongside players such as Chinakhov, Malkin, Andrei Kuzmenko, or Rickard Rakell, forming what could be considered a second line with notable offensive potential. In that scenario, the quantity of ice time would remain similar, but the quality and impact of his linemates could experience a meaningful upgrade.
There is also a plausible path for Kindel to spend time with other depth options, should he be placed lower in the pecking order. In that scenario, he might skate with players like Brazeau, Novak, Nick Robertson, Elmer Soderblom, or Hendrix Lapierre, occupying a less prominent role within the lineup. The exact distribution of minutes and roles will hinge on how the Penguins choose to balance center ice with Crosby and the evolving needs of the forward group.
Overall, Kindel’s development this off-season has the potential to influence not only his own trajectory but also the Penguins’ approach to mid-line minutes and the evaluation of center depth. If he earns a spot on a higher-talent line, his on-ice responsibilities could grow, and his production could rise accordingly. If not, he remains a versatile asset capable of contributing in a secondary scoring role and providing depth when called upon. The upcoming season promises to be telling for Kindel as he competes to secure a more consistent mid-line role and to prove that he can handle responsibilities alongside some of the team’s higher-end offensive options.