With three first-round picks in the 2025 NHL Draft, the Pittsburgh Penguins were aiming to maximize the addition of talent in their system. 

And they got the first of those three picks locked up.

On Tuesday, the Penguins signed 11th overall pick Ben Kindel to a three-year, entry-level contract, making him NHL-eligible for the 2025-26 season. Kindel was the the first of three first-round selections for the Penguins, with the others being Bill Zonnon (22nd overall) and Will Horcoff (24th overall). 

Kindel, 18, registered 35 goals and 99 points last season for the Calgary Hitmen of the WHL, where he is a teammate of Penguins' forward prospect Tanner Howe. The 5-foot-10, 176-pound center has accrued 50 goals and 159 points in 134 career WHL games.

He just wrapped up his first Prospect Development Camp with the Penguins from Jul. 3-7.

Penguins Prospect Development Camp: Standouts From Day 2With two full days of Prospect Development Camp in the books for the Pittsburgh Penguins, there has been a lot to digest.

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab  to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more! 

Feature image credit: Kelsey Surmacz - The Hockey News