Not 12 months ago, the Pittsburgh Penguins made Ben Kindel the first of their three first-round picks, though they did so with little expectation he would become a lineup fixture by October. Conversely, near the 2025 NHL trade deadline, the Penguins acquired Tommy Novak with the full hope and expectation that he would seize his newfound opportunity and become a nightly staple in the lineup.

The pair of middle-six centers finished the season with similar stat lines, but by the end of the season were trending in entirely different directions.

Kindel, 18, struggled to find offense at multiple points throughout the season, but he also showed a calm and maturity well beyond a true rookie. His defensive game rarely wavered as he submitted a complete and reliable game regardless of his name appearing on the scoresheet.

Novak, 28, had a relatively difficult first six weeks of the season. His spot in the lineup was deservedly questioned as defensive mistakes compounded his ghosting of the scoreboard.

Kindel finished with 18 goals and 35 points in 77 games. Novak hit the finish line with 16 goals and 42 points in 82 games.

Kindel had only three points (3-0-3) in his first 10 games and only six points in November, followed by only six more points in December, a span encompassing 25 games.

Novak similarly had only nine points through the end of November before coach Dan Muse moved him to center, in part to cover for Evgeni Malkin’s injury absence from early December through January. Beginning in December, Novak’s offensive totals improved to more appropriate levels for a second-line player, and he posted 11 points (5-6-11) in 14 games.

Also, as part of the offensive output, Muse put Novak on Sidney Crosby’s wing while moving Rickard Rakell to center for what became a brief spell before moving Novak back to the middle for most of the remainder of the season.

Muse remained an advocate for both, though the coach rarely had to defend his deployment of Kindel. As Novak struggled early in the season, Muse made a point to praise Novak’s details and the little things he did defensively.

“Tommy is a guy who I think has great poise with the puck and really good vision,” Muse said back in October. “He can draw coverage to him and find options away from him. He’s also a guy who I don’t think gets enough credit for some of his positional play away from the puck.”

However, the end of the season was where the two paths had their greatest divergence. Muse tried different linemates with Kindel to find a spark, including Novak, while Novak lost his spot in the middle and again moved around the Penguins’ lines as his production and play flagged under the pressure of March and April hockey.

Novak had just two assists over the last 12 games of March as the Penguins charged toward a playoff spot. Kindel also had some struggles in early March, posting a minus-6 rating over a three game span but didn’t go more than three games without scoring.

One interesting little advanced stat nugget that makes Kindel’s season just a little more impressive: Despite their different usage, Kindel had more defensive zone starts (99) than did Novak (83), and more defensive zone faceoffs (204) than Novak (186). So, Kindel put up equal numbers despite more starts on the defensive side of the ice (Stats according to NaturalStatTrick.com).

Penguins Report Card

Kindel: A+

Compared to what was expected vs. what was delivered, Kindel far exceeded expectations. There were rookie struggles and slumps. There were also solid stretches of play. His defensive work kept him in the lineup, and his puck distribution skills helped linemates, too.

While Kindel never admitted to wearing down, nor did he ever cope to the typical rookie struggles, they were obvious. Kindel is generously listed at 5-foot-11, 182 pounds, and he played hard minutes all season.

His improvement from the July development camp to October was nothing short of stunning, and it is almost comical to recall that many in the Penguins organization were curious if Kindel would last past the first nine games of the season before being returned to his junior team.

Kindel earned his keep. And in some of the more enduring images and most emblematic moments of the Penguins changing tide, it was so often Crosby and Kindel leading a small group of hockey obsessed players staying on the ice for close to an hour after practice playing sometimes silly and sometimes serious hockey games.

Tommy Novak: B-

While the stats are quite similar, much more was expected, or needed, from Novak, especially early in the season when the team was trying to find itself and later in the season when the goal was within reach.

Novak played beside Malkin, centered Malkin, and was the pivot with a few talented wingers, but didn’t exceed expectations. In a few areas, his shortcomings–soft wall play, lack of edge–were as advertised, and his performance in the playoffs would have merited a poor grade.

However, his work for several months in the middle of the season showcased just how much is possible. When he found his stride by January, he was pushing play from the middle, creating offense with superior puck distribution, and generally lifting his line.

Muse was a supporter and was rewarded until the playoffs. Players at 28 or 29 don’t often add dimensions to their game, but if Novak can be just a little harder to play against, he could get a nice payday as his contract expires after next season. Perhaps Novak will be pressed into duty as Crosby’s linemate next season, or he could be trade fodder this summer.

Novak reestablished himself as a possible middle-six center, but his hold on that is tenuous pending next season.

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