[shutout]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/631...hl-draft-2025/

Ben Kindel

... 17-year-old, he led the Hitmen in combined regular-season and playoff scoring, registering 43 goals and 114 points in 76 games. NHL Central Scouting have him listed as their 21st-ranked ...

... Ben is a smart and versatile center that can be deployed in all situations. He is quick, agile and elusive with the puck, with the ability to create his own scoring chances as well as set-up quality looks for teammates. A consistent generator of offence, he’s smart and responsible with and without the puck and an asset on both special team units. Willing to play bigger than his size, he battles and competes with good balance and strength on his skates. He consistently goes into the ‘hard’ areas of the ice to makes plays and generate chances ...

... he’s a typical 17-year-old. He doesn’t have man strength yet at all, so there’s room. Whether he’s going to get to 6-feet tall I think is probably a stretch but he certainly will fill out and increase his strengths and that’ll be important with the core and the legs to assist with his skating ...