It’s Only Been Three Games. But Kindel And Brunicke Should Be In

Going into Pittsburgh Penguins’ training camp this season, it’s safe to say that most folks did not have 2025 11th overall pick Ben Kindel making the NHL roster out of the gate.

Defensive prospect Harrison Brunicke? Maybe, but even that was a huge question mark. The Penguins had four right-side defenseman with NHL experience penciled in to crack the roster, even if Brunicke had already impressed the Penguins’ organization during his 2024 camp.

But, against all odds, both teenagers did make the NHL roster out of training camp and earned at least a nine-game trial with the big club. 

Brunicke, 19, registered his first NHL goal Thursday in a 4-3 win against the New York Islanders, which was a beautiful wrist shot through a screen from the slot. Kindel, 18, scored his in the very next game – a 6-1 loss to the New York Rangers on Saturday – which was a Phil Kessel-esque long-range wrister from the right wing off the rush.

Both players have one goal and are a plus-1 after three NHL games. Both have shown improvement with each passing pre-season and regular season game. And both players could be sent back to the Western Hockey League (WHL) before their respective entry-level contracts kick in at Game No. 10. 

Three games in, it is already looking like they no longer belong in junior hockey. Now, they’re making a very strong case to stick around for good.

It’s important to note that Kindel and Brunicke are not a package deal. One has an additional year of seasoning in junior hockey, they play different positions and fill different needs for this Penguins’ team, and they are at different places in their development, even if they are both showing well in the early parts of the season.

On A Night Of Firsts, Penguins Defeat Islanders, 4-3
It was a night of firsts for several Pittsburgh Penguins’ players in Thursday’s home opener against the New York Islanders. 

For one, there is a…