A sound strategy for any NHL team rostering a young prospect is to permit them to represent their country on the World Junior Championship over the vacations. Team Canada could nearly roster a whole team from the league this yr with all of the young stars, but two players from the Pittsburgh Penguins, Ben Kindel and Harrison Brunicke, have everyone’s attention.
If the NHL team is not contending for a playoff spot that season, or the young prospect is not getting as many minutes, playing in that prestigious tournament is an excellent likelihood to play some meaningful hockey. It’s why, when a report on Sunday said Kindel was going to get a release to play, via Cam Robinson, it surprised some individuals who have been watching him begin to grow to be one in all the Penguins’ most reliable forwards.
Penguins’ reporter Josh Yohe threw some cold water on the report on Sunday evening, via X, formerly often known as Twitter.
“Contrary to what you’ll have seen today, Ben Kindel won’t be playing in World Junior tourney,” Yohe reported. “He’s in Pittsburgh to remain. I might expect Harrison Brunicke to play for Team Canada.”
Kindel has just seven goals and three assists this season, but he plays around 17 minutes per game most nights. He also plays on the primary powerplay unit and has been killing an increasing number of penalties. The Penguins, who currently sit in a playoff spot, would have an enormous hole to fill if Kindel left the team for 3 weeks.
Brunicke is a unique case. He played just nine games for the Penguins this season and recently went to the AHL for a five-game conditioning stint on account of his reduced playing time within the NHL. The rule allowing NHLers to play within the World Junior tournament is supposed for players like Harrison Brunicke.