Latest news with #NHLDraftProspectsRankings
Edmonton Journal
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
Calgary talents Ben Kindel, Jackson Smith chosen 11th and 14th in NHL Draft
Article content But how about playing alongside Sid Crosby, Ben? It's in the cards for the Calgary Hitmen forward after the Pittsburgh Penguins shocked many — including Kindel himself — by making him the 11th selection Friday night in the 2025 NHL Draft. 'Yeah … you always kind of dreamed about this day,' said Kindel, who was visibly surprised at being drafted so high — 10 picks better than his final rating of 21 among North American skaters in the NHL Draft Prospects Rankings.
Calgary Herald
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
Calgary talents Ben Kindel, Jackson Smith chosen 11th and 14th in NHL Draft
Article content Ben Kindel listed his dream linemate as the legendary Maurice Richard. Article content But how about playing alongside Sid Crosby, Ben? Article content It's in the cards for the Calgary Hitmen forward after the Pittsburgh Penguins shocked many — including Kindel himself — by making him the 11th selection Friday night in the 2025 NHL Draft. Article content 'Yeah … you always kind of dreamed about this day,' said Kindel, who was visibly surprised at being drafted so high — 10 picks better than his final rating of 21 among North American skaters in the NHL Draft Prospects Rankings. Article content Article content 'I guess I never knew if it would become a reality or not,' continued Kindel, the third Western Hockey League talent selected on the evening. 'I think just if you put enough work into it, anything can happen.' Article content Article content Jackson Smith, a graduate of the Glenlake Hawks and product of Edge School, was chosen 14th overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets. Article content 'I'm gonna be honest … I don't really have much of a clue what's down in Columbus,' Jackson told reporters, with a laugh, at the prospects party in Los Angeles. 'I've never been there before.' Article content But the Jackets have more than a clue about Smith. Article content They chose the 6-foot-4, 199-lb. defenceman — a 54-point-getter with the Tri-City Americans last WHL season — because he's big and strong and has got a smooth set of wheels. Article content Article content 'What we really like is he's one of the best skaters in the draft,' said Blue Jackets GM/president of hockey operations Don Waddell. 'And he can transport the puck — get you out of trouble really easy. Article content Article content 'You need puck-moving defencemen in this game today, because the games are played very fast. And we're very fortunate to be able to add Jackson to our lineup.' Article content The Smith selection was announced by Meredith Gaudreau, the widow of Calgary Flames legend Johnny Gaudreau, making for an emotional moment at L.A.'s Peacock Theatre. Article content 'My greatest honour is representing (Johnny),' Meredith told the crowd at the draft. 'So just really happy to be here.' Article content For Smith, going to the Blue Jackets means a chance to hang out on the same blue-line as one of the game's top defencemen in Zach Werenski. Article content 'He's an incredible hockey player,' said Smith, who was rated 13th among North American skaters in the NHL Draft Prospects Rankings. 'Going to the same team as (Werenski), it's pretty cool.'
Vancouver Sun
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Vancouver Sun
Calgary talents Ben Kindel, Jackson Smith chosen 11th and 14th in NHL Draft
Ben Kindel listed his dream linemate as the legendary Maurice Richard. Not a bad choice. But how about playing alongside Sid Crosby, Ben? It's in the cards for the Calgary Hitmen forward after the Pittsburgh Penguins shocked many — including Kindel himself — by making him the 11th selection Friday night in the 2025 NHL Draft. 'Yeah … you always kind of dreamed about this day,' said Kindel, who was visibly surprised at being drafted so high — 10 picks better than his final rating of 21 among North American skaters in the NHL Draft Prospects Rankings. 'I guess I never knew if it would become a reality or not,' continued Kindel, the third Western Hockey League talent selected on the evening. 'I think just if you put enough work into it, anything can happen.' Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. It was a banner night for Calgary hockey talent in the annual pro hockey pick-em. Jackson Smith, a graduate of the Glenlake Hawks and product of Edge School, was chosen 14th overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets. 'I'm gonna be honest … I don't really have much of a clue what's down in Columbus,' Jackson told reporters, with a laugh, at the prospects party in Los Angeles. 'I've never been there before.' But the Jackets have more than a clue about Smith. They chose the 6-foot-4, 199-lb. defenceman — a 54-point-getter with the Tri-City Americans last WHL season — because he's big and strong and has got a smooth set of wheels. 'What we really like is he's one of the best skaters in the draft,' said Blue Jackets GM/president of hockey operations Don Waddell. 'And he can transport the puck — get you out of trouble really easy. 'You need puck-moving defencemen in this game today, because the games are played very fast. And we're very fortunate to be able to add Jackson to our lineup.' The Smith selection was announced by Meredith Gaudreau, the widow of Calgary Flames legend Johnny Gaudreau, making for an emotional moment at L.A.'s Peacock Theatre. 'My greatest honour is representing (Johnny),' Meredith told the crowd at the draft. 'So just really happy to be here.' For Smith, going to the Blue Jackets means a chance to hang out on the same blue-line as one of the game's top defencemen in Zach Werenski. 'He's an incredible hockey player,' said Smith, who was rated 13th among North American skaters in the NHL Draft Prospects Rankings. 'Going to the same team as (Werenski), it's pretty cool.' Kindel, of Coquitlam, B.C., grew up a staunch Montreal Canadiens fan, taking that mantle from dad Steve and listing Brandon Gallagher as his favourite player growing up and 'The Rocket' as the star he'd most like to skate with in his hockey career. But the Penguins will give him that chance now with one of their icons, 'Sid The Kid'. 'I talked to Pittsburgh a little bit throughout the year, and I knew they were somewhat interested, so I always knew it was possible,' Kindel told the Pittsburgh media, of being drafted by the Penguins. 'It's an honour to be part of this organization. Obviously, they have a player such as Sidney Crosby and a lot of the great players that have been here for a long-time. 'Sid's passion for the game, his loyalty of the Penguins and his hockey sense and the way he plays the game the right way, I really admire that all those things about him.' The Pens obviously admire what Kindel can bring. This past season, the 5-foot-10, 180-lb. centre tallied 35 goals and 99 points — the latter the most of all 2025 NHL draft-eliglbles. And he was a monster, including being the overtime hero in two straight games, during an 11-game playoff run for the Hitmen. 'My work ethic has definitely got me to where I am today, as well as my hockey sense and my vision,' added Kindel. 'Those are the three biggest things for me. And a lot of that might just come naturally. And I think I've always had kind of a quiet confidence whatever level I played at. 'But I'm just kind of treating this experience as more of a milestone. The draft doesn't define you. I kind of experienced that through the WHL as a later pick in that draft. And I know the hardest part is going to start the day after, and I still have a lot more work to put in there, so just keeping a humble mindset going into it after the draft.' tsaelhof@
Ottawa Citizen
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Calgary talents Ben Kindel, Jackson Smith chosen 11th and 14th in NHL Draft
Article content Ben Kindel listed his dream linemate as the legendary Maurice Richard. Article content But how about playing alongside Sid Crosby, Ben? Article content It's in the cards for the Calgary Hitmen forward after the Pittsburgh Penguins shocked many — including Kindel himself — by making him the 11th selection Friday night in the 2025 NHL Draft. Article content 'Yeah … you always kind of dreamed about this day,' said Kindel, who was visibly surprised at being drafted so high — 10 picks better than his final rating of 21 among North American skaters in the NHL Draft Prospects Rankings. Article content Article content Article content Jackson Smith, a graduate of the Glenlake Hawks and product of Edge School, was chosen 14th overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets. Article content 'I'm gonna be honest … I don't really have much of a clue what's down in Columbus,' Jackson told reporters, with a laugh, at the prospects party in Los Angeles. 'I've never been there before.' Article content But the Jackets have more than a clue about Smith. Article content They chose the 6-foot-4, 199-lb. defenceman — a 54-point-getter with the Tri-City Americans last WHL season — because he's big and strong and has got a smooth set of wheels. Article content Article content 'What we really like is he's one of the best skaters in the draft,' said Blue Jackets GM/president of hockey operations Don Waddell. 'And he can transport the puck — get you out of trouble really easy. Article content Article content 'You need puck-moving defencemen in this game today, because the games are played very fast. And we're very fortunate to be able to add Jackson to our lineup.' Article content The Smith selection was announced by Meredith Gaudreau, the widow of Calgary Flames legend Johnny Gaudreau, making for an emotional moment at L.A.'s Peacock Theatre. Article content 'My greatest honour is representing (Johnny),' Meredith told the crowd at the draft. 'So just really happy to be here.' Article content For Smith, going to the Blue Jackets means a chance to hang out on the same blue-line as one of the game's top defencemen in Zach Werenski. Article content 'He's an incredible hockey player,' said Smith, who was rated 13th among North American skaters in the NHL Draft Prospects Rankings. 'Going to the same team as (Werenski), it's pretty cool.'
