SAN JOSE – Pittsburgh Penguins rookie Ben Kindel had an opportunity this summer to skate and practice with, among others, fellow centers Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks and Connor Bedard of the Chicago Blackhawks.

That work on the ice, and his conversations with them off of it, boosted Kindel’s confidence, and perhaps played a small role in helping him crack the Penguins’ roster to start the regular season.

“It was a great experience getting to train with some very high-level NHL players,” Kindel told Bay Area News Group at SAP Center. “So I think it really helped prepare me coming into my first training camp, getting to skate with those guys. It was a great training environment.”

Kindel took that experience into the Penguins’ training camp, and he had a goal and two assists in

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