There’s no question Penguins POHO/GM Kyle Dubas is an intelligent guy. Heck, he even looks the part with his horn-rimmed glasses. I’ve heard him described on numerous occasions as the smartest guy in the room.
Anyone who could’ve pulled off the Erik Karlsson blockbuster with all its moving parts, never mind the disappointing aftermath, has to possess at least a touch of genius.
However, as the old saying goes, you can be too smart for your own good. Was that the case for Dubas at the recent NHL Entry Draft, when he pulled a shocker by selecting Calgary Hitman forward Benjamin Kindel 11th overall? Some 10 slots ahead of where NHL Central Scouting pegged the kid in its ranking of North American skaters.
It’s way (way) early to pass judgement. And there’s no question Kindel’s very skilled. As a 17-year-old, the right-shot center piled up 99 points in the WHL, with a healthy distribution of goals (35) and assists (64). He’s clever, creative and determined, and loves to hang onto the puck to make plays.
However, there are caution flags. Listed at 5’10” and 176 pounds by Hockeydb, it goes without saying the Coquitlam, BC native is undersized. Skating, at least at this stage of his development, appears to be an issue. Perhaps his decision-making as well.
Sounds like the kind of player who might’ve been a better fit as a late first-rounder or even early second-rounder.
According to reports from other sites, Kindel’s performance at the Pens’ recent development camp left something to be desired. I didn’t attend any camp sessions, so I’ll point you to those who did, Dan Kingerski of Pittsburgh Hockey Now and Jim Rixner (aka Hooks Orpik) of Pensburgh for the details.
Perhaps as a top pick, Kindel felt pressure to put on a show. Based on the PHN and Pensburgh accounts, it backfired to a degree.
Again, it’s way early. There are lots of developmental miles to go. But I had concerns when we drafted Kindel, or at least where we did. Concerns that have only amplified.
Bear with me while I go off on a tangent.
Jack Hughes was a first overall pick of the Devils in 2019. Undersized (like Kindel), but incredibly gifted and an extraordinary skater. A bit injury prone, but impressively productive when healthy.
I found myself focusing on Hughes during the 4 Nations Face-Off in February. Although not for a lack of try or effort, against the world’s best to my eye he was largely ineffective (an assist in four games). Despite his blazing speed and obvious skills, Hughes had difficulty breaching the prime scoring areas and was more often than not consigned to the perimeter.
A boy among men, for lack of a better way to describe it.
Granted, a very small and isolated sample set. But valid.
If a player of Hughes’ pedigree has issues against heightened competition, what does that say of Kindel’s long-range outlook? Especially in a league that increasingly emphasizes power, speed and aggression. Elements that Kindel presently lacks.
Does size and strength always prevail? Is bigger always better?
The answer is no…with a caveat. Small men can survive and even thrive in the NHL, but it takes a special breed of player. I’m thinking specifically of former Bruins mainstay and current Panther Brad Marchand.
Like Hughes, Marchand is built along Kindel’s dimensions. However, he compensates for his lack of size with an incredibly unique combination of skill, guile, guts, aggression and smarts, to say nothing of his quick, agile skating and off-the-charts competitive streak.
The 37-year-old wonder put on a show in the Final, piling up five goals and twice victimizing Oilers defensemen with stunning, windmill moves before driving to the net to score. Goals that would’ve done Mario Lemieux proud.
Bottom line? If you’re undersized and, especially if you don’t skate particularly well, you’d better have a lot of other dimensions to your game.
It remains to be seen if Kindel does. Or if Dubas outsmarted himself on this one.
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"Maybe it was Sullivan’s system but trading for a piece that just didn’t fit the system is far from smart. "
Pray tell. What exactly was the Sullivan's system that Eriksson didn't fit? When you look at Francis Anazalone's video breakdown on Eriksson, it's clear that the problem isn't system. It's that he simply is deficient in the basic techniques of playing defense. Try watching Anazalone's videos, you might accidentally learn something.
I also find you posts hilarious. They could have had Kindel at at 58. Based on what? Some amateur hack at a rag like the Hockey Writers (tHW). That's laughable. You really had to go through the trash to find the worst possible ranking, didn't you. In fact, his overall ranking across the major publications came out to about 20 if I recall. And You don't know for a fact that he would have been available later. Dubas said that he had reason to believe that he wouldn't be available.
For the record have some doubts about Kindel too. But since like everyone else who posts about hockey on social media, I'm no expert so I'm not justified having a very strong opinion about him.
I get it outsider, you are very limited in your ways of thinking. If something exists outside of that narrow band, you get upset and need to rant and engage in immature name calling further weakening any case you may try and make with the bellicose nature of your prattling. If you were to ever over come your enormous ego, 20 or 30 times the size of your skill set you would have read that the final rankings of Central Scouting didn't rate Kindel 20th out of all draft prospects, but 21st out of North American skating prospects only. That ranking did not account for any European skaters or Goaltenders on either Continent.
Your anger at anyone who has an opposing opinion to yours really compromises your ability to read closely and engage in critical thinking. You immediately shut down any higher thinking and resort to base personal attacks further limiting your knowledge base.
But this is America and the idea of free thought and personal opinions is still counted here. Furthermore, we are on the internet, a medium that allows people anonymity, emboldening them to rude and classless behaviors and speech. So go ahead and posture and pat yourself on your back at how smart you are and how foolish everyone who advances ideas outside of your narrow view points; maybe it helps you sleep at night or bolsters an otherwise sagging ego.
Rick & The Other Rick
I’m not jumping on the “In Dubas We Trust” bandwagon just yet. Honestly, I was really hoping they’d grab Nesbitt with either the 11th or 12th pick—whichever one they ended up keeping. He felt like a perfect fit, and I think he’s going to be a really solid pro. But in fairness, Dubas probably deserves a little benefit of the doubt here. It's still early with Kindle, and there's plenty of time for the Penguins to figure out if he can become the guy they envisioned when they drafted him.
That said, I will give Dubas credit for one thing—the McGroarty for Yager trade was actually a pretty clever move. On the surface, it might look like a lateral swap, but when you dig into it, I think the Penguins came out ahead.
Yager’s a talented player, no doubt, but there were some concerns with his overall impact. His numbers dipped a bit, and there’s a growing feeling that his ceiling might not be as high as originally thought. He’s more of a finesse scorer with some defensive question marks, and there were times last season when he kind of disappeared during games.
McGroarty, on the other hand, brings a different kind of energy. He’s got leadership qualities, plays with more physicality, and has a motor that doesn’t stop. You watch him play, and it’s clear he’s engaged in every shift. He might not be as flashy as Yager, but he’s more NHL-ready in a lot of ways. The way he drives play and gets to the dirty areas is something this Penguins team needs moving forward—especially as they try to build a new identity around a younger core.
And look, if it turns out Kindle isn’t the guy they thought he was, there’s always a way to pivot. That’s part of the job. If you end up moving Karlsson at some point, you can throw Kindle into the deal as a sweetener. Every GM wants to win the press conference — Dubas included — so there’s always room to reshape things if a pick doesn't pan out.
Rick, on another note: Do you think it's a coincidence that Marchand and Crosby both at the age of 37 are still playing
at a high level or maybe, just maybe its because he works out with Sid the Kid during the off-season? Just a thought.
Wow Mike, some terrific thoughts. I especially like how you pointed out that Dubas has the ability to pivot if need be down the road.
Funny that you mention Yager. I stopped short of drawing a comparison between him and Kindel in my article because they really aren't the same player. Yager's more of a shoot-first guy who possesses a wicked shot while Kindel's a bit more of a play maker.
And yet there are similarities. Both are undersized and neither possesses blazing speed. Yager's 18-year-old numbers (35 goals, 60 assists, 95 points) are practically identical to Kindel's 17-going-on-18 boxcars (35 goals, 64 assists, 99 points).
Again, it's way early to pass any type of judgement on Kindel. Obviously Dubas and Wes Clark saw something in this kid they really liked. Enough to nab him well ahead of his projected slot. I guess the analytics folks really like him, too.
I just worry when a kid's undersized and isn't regarded as a particularly good skater, regardless of his skill level. To me, that's starting out with two strikes against him.
Rick
Hey Mike,
I am not saying Kindel will never make it into the NHL, I am just saying that using the 11th or 12th overall pick on a player that you may have been able to draft as late as 58th was less than intelligent and a waste of resources.
Hey Rick,
On several occasions I have noted Dubas' pathos at the drafting table in the first round; it is well documented. He is great in the second round but stinks in the first. On a couple of other occasions I have also noted that Kindel was a serious overreach by our hockey chief. He may look like the smartest guy in the room, but he is not showing it. Horn of the Hockey Writers (tHW) rated Kindel at 60th, Forbes of tHW at 30th, McKeen's Hockey and Future Considerations rated him at 27th. If Dubas really wanted Kindel, there is a strong probability that the kid would still have been around at the 31st pick and Dubas could have drafted him then while garnering Zonnon with either Aitcheson or Nesbitt with the first pick.
As for the Karlsson trade evidence that Dubas is the smartest guy in the room, how has that trade worked out? Two straight years of missing the playoffs is far from a rousing endorsement. Maybe it was Sullivan's system but trading for a piece that just didn't fit the system is far from smart. It is like a certain person I know arguing that buying something on sale, even though she doesn't ever use the item somehow saved her money.