First, it was Harrison Brunicke in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the Anaheim Ducks.

And, on Thursday, it will be Ben Kindel in the second game of a three-game Western road trip against the Los Angeles Kings.

After Thursday's morning skate, Pittsburgh Penguins' head coach Dan Muse announced that Kindel - like Brunicke on Tuesday - would be held out of the lineup for reasons related to his "development plan."

“He’s going to follow a similar plan as Harrison Brunicke," Muse said. "This is what we feel is best for him now and in the future.”

And as far as that "development plan"? This is what Muse had to say Tuesday ahead of Brunicke's scratch from the lineup:

"I think with Brunicke - and the same thing could be said and will be said for Kindel - these are young players," he said. "We're looking at what's best for them now, but also, for them to continue to grow throughout the course of the season. So, there will be times throughout the start there, where they're coming out of the lineup, and this is all part of a plan for them. 
"[Penguins' GM and POHO Kyle Dubas], along with [Penguins' Director of Performance] Rich Rotenberg... they have experience with this coming from their time in Toronto. There's been a lot of discussions with them and with the rest of the staff in terms of what's going to be best for these younger players, guys that are in their teens coming into this league.
"And, so, there's a plan in place for them that we have, and the purpose for this plan is to ensure that they continue to get strong, that they continue to grow, and we're putting them in the best position for them. They're in a different situation just because of their age. It's something I strongly agree with, and I've learned some lessons myself just with my time wokring with younger players. And, so, there is a reasoning behind this."

- - Penguins' head coach Dan MuseTop Prospect Will Be Out Of Lineup In Anaheim For 'Development Plan'It appears that one of the top prospects for the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> will see his first game as a healthy scratch Tuesday.

Yes, the kids may be getting healthy-scratched despite their relatively high level of play so far in the young season. But - if we're reading into this at all - this could be a good thing for both of the Penguins' top teenage prospects. 

Right now, both Brunicke, 19, and Kindel, 18, are in the midst of what is commonly referred to as their "nine-game trials." Essentially, both players can play in nine NHL games before the first year of their respective three-year entry-level contracts kick in at 10 games. If they are optioned back to their junior teams - in Kindel's case, the Calgary Hitmen, and in Brunicke's case, the Kamloops Blazers, both of the Western Hockey League (WHL) - prior to the 10th game, their contracts do not kick in this season.

They can be optioned back to juniors at any point this season, but once they are optioned, they are not eligible to return until the conclusion of their respective junior seasons - which makes for some tough decisions by management, as both players are playing well.

It's Only Been Three Games. But Kindel And Brunicke Should Be In Pittsburgh To Stay.Going into <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a>' training camp this season, it's safe to say that most folks did not have 2025 11th overall pick Ben Kindel making the NHL roster out of the gate.

But the fact that the young defenseman and the even younger forward are being put on season-long development plans may actually be an indication that the Penguins do not intend on sending them back to juniors before the 10-game mark, barring any major regression in play from either of them. If the team just let them burn through the nine games, it would be a different story. 

The fact that they're trying to manage their minutes and workload this early on - Kindel (11th overall in 2025) has never played in more than 65 games in one season, while Brunicke (44th overall in 2024) has not played in more than 59 games due to injury - shows that the organization cares about making sure the young players are not burdened with the gruel and grind of a full 82-game NHL season against grown men right from the jump.

Of course, only time will tell whether or not this is the case, and it's safe to say that the coming days and weeks will be crucial for Brunicke and Kindel as far as performance and continuing to prove they belong. But, in the immediacy, this appears to be a good sign that the kids may just be here to stay.

Penguins At Kings Preview: Penguins Looking To Snap Two-Game Losing StreakThe Pittsburgh Penguins are looking to snap their two-game losing streak on Thursday night.

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After an impressive preseason and cracking the Nashville Predators roster to open the 2025-26 season, forward Joakim Kemell has been assigned to the Milwaukee Admirals. 

The team announced the forward would be joining the AHL team on Thursday after Kemell was scratched from the lineup in the Predators 7-4 loss to the Maple Leafs on Tuesday. 

Kemell has seen action in just two games this season against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Oct. 9 and the Ottawa Senators on Oct. 13. He took 14 shifts in each game, logging 12:22 minutes of ice time against the Blue Jackets and 9:46 minutes against the Senators. 

Kemell played 65 games in Milwaukee last season, scoring 40 points. He attracted the attention of fans in the Predators' 3-2 overtime win over the Carolina Hurricanes, where he laid a big hit on  Andrei Svechnikov, drew a penalty and scored the game-winner on a slap shot later. 

He is the second player to be assigned to Milwaukee in the early season, as Matthew Wood was assigned to the Admirals on Oct. 10 after returning to Predators practice for the first time since sustaining a lower-body injury in the preseason. 

Nashville takes on Montreal Thursday at 6 p.m. CST at the Bell Centre. 

The season-ticket holders who were interviewed for this story had no restrictions on using their full names. Due to the overwhelming angry vitriol online, the author chose to only use their first name and last initial to protect them and their families' identity.

LAS VEGAS -- With the Golden Knights signing goaltender Carter Hart, the response on social media came from every direction as he became the first of the five 2018 Canada world junior hockey players to sign an NHL contract since being acquitted of sexual assault in a high-profile case.

Fans voiced their anger about the signing, believing the Knights downplayed serious allegations despite the legal resolution, fueling debates on their accountability versus the need for a goaltender.

Hart, who played for the Philadelphia Flyers until taking an indefinite leave in 2022 amid the investigation, along with Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube, Cal Foote and Alex Formenton faced charges in 2024, but were acquitted after the complainant's unwillingness to proceed and evidentiary issues.

"you know, carter hart won’t see you cheering him on online but your friends who have been sexually assaulted will," @cemeteryfIowers also wrote on X.

Added @chefbriere, who wrote on X: "feels like a real slap in the face to women that an nhl team would go out of their way to sign a rapist when he wasn’t even that great of a player to begin with. he was already losing his starting role to (Samuel Ersson) before he left.

"congratulations to the vegas golden knights for throwing away the shred of reputation they had left by signing a mediocre rapist who literally (expletive) himself out of anxiety."

Captain Mark Stone said players were approached before Hart was signed, adding that management "put a lot of time and effort into" the signing and that the players are "looking forward to having him here."

"When you speak to people who know Carter, they have a lot of good things to say about his character and who he is as a person," Jack Eichel said. "We’re really looking forward to having him and moving forward."

And while much of the debate on social media came from nameless or faceless X account holders, two female season ticket holders - both mothers of seven daughters combined - said they don't see an issue with the signing, considering the players were acquitted.

"I’m good with it," said Ronnie H., who has three daughters. "We are a second-chance team. We started with throwaway players that no one thought would go far, and yet here we are.

"And he was acquitted, so he should be able to live his life without all the noise. I kind of feel bad for him. He was a kid and was in with the wrong crowd, making bad, bad decisions. He’s a good goalie, and we really need another one. Everyone hates Vegas, so it’s one more thing to hate, I guess."

Terri L., who like Ronnie H., has been a season-ticket holder since the team's inception in 2017 and said other players have been surrounded by criticism, and after arriving in the Golden Knights' locker room and proving their character, were eventually embraced by the community.

She expects nothing less with Hart.

"What I love about the Knights is they don’t care about the scandal as much as they care about building a competitive roster," Terri L. said. "They evaluate the player based on the person and their skills versus the baggage they have."

Hart spoke to reporters after a morning workout at the team facility on Thursday morning.

"I'm beyond grateful, excited and honored to be part of the Golden Knights," said Hart, who made 25 starts in what was his sixth season for the Philadelphia Flyers in 2023-24, when he recorded a 2.80 goals-against average, .906 save percentage, one shutout and 12-9-3 record before stepping away from the team. "It's been a long road to get back to this point, getting back to playing the game of hockey, the game that I love. I've learned a lot. I've grown a lot. Just excited to move forward.

"I've heard nothing but great things about the city, the community, the fanbase, the organization and I got to meet a lot of people today. And I'm so excited to get the chance to play in front of them, and for them. And just get to show the community my true character and who I am and what I'm about.

"I got to meet some guys here today. Everybody's been very welcoming. I'm just looking forward to getting things rolling here, getting to work alongside all these guys, getting to know them all, and continuing to build on the championship culture that's been established here in Las Vegas."

The Kings look to improve to 2-2-1 as they welcome Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

After losing 4-3 in a shootout on Sunday against Minnesota, the Kings look to snap their two-game losing streak tonight against the Penguins. The Penguins are also looking to snap their 2 game losing streak tonight as they continue their California road trip. 

Projected Kings Lines: 

Projected lines for the Kings: 

A. Kuzmenko - A. Kopitar - A. Kempe

K. Fiala - Q. Byfield - J. Armia

W. Foegele - P. Danault - T. Moore

J. Malott - A. Turcotte - A. Laferriere

B. Dumoulin - D. Doughty

J. Edmundson - B. Clarke

M. Anderson - C. Ceci

A. Forsberg

P. Copley

Projected Penguins Lines:

Projected lines for the Penguins: 

R. Rakell - S. Crosby - B. Rust

A. Mantha - E. Malkin - J. Brazeau

F. Hallander - T. Novak - P. Tomasino

C. Dewar - B. Lizotte - N. Acciari

P. Wotherspoon - E. Karlsson

R. Shea - K. Letang

C. Jones - H. Brunicke

A. Silovs

T. Jarry

Important Factors

Before the important factors, some news regarding the Kings' lineup is that Anze Kopitar is a game-time decision due to a lower-body injury. Earlier this week, the Kings acquired G Phoenix Copley from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Future Considerations because Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper is out of the lineup with a lower-body injury. 

The Kings will have to limit the Penguins' chances, as their depth has provided them with numerous scoring opportunities. They will also have to limit not only Sidney Crosby but also Evgeni Malkin and Justin Brazeau, as both of them are off to hot starts this season. 

If the Kings get on the power play, that is where they can do the most damage, as they are ranked 9th in the NHL in power play percentage, and the Penguins' penalty kill is ranked 23rd, allowing the Kings to capitalize on that.

Another key defensive aspect the Kings need to address is allowing G Anton Forsberg to see the puck. The Penguins often crash the net for tips and rebounds, and if the Kings give Forsberg enough room to see the puck, they will be able to capitalize. 

Overall, if the Kings limit the Penguins' scoring chances, in that case, their counterattack will be able to capitalize on the Penguins' defensemen, as they often pinch and are aggressive offensively, which the Kings can use to their advantage. 

LAS VEGAS -- Carter Hart spoke to reporters after his workout as a member of the Golden Knights.

Hart, who cannot play in the NHL before Dec. 1, was one of the five members of Canada’s 2018 world juniors team who were found not guilty of sexual assault in a trial that took place earlier this year in London, Ont.

"I'm beyond grateful, excited and honored to be part of the Golden Knights," Hart said. "Got a great skate today with (goalie coach Sean) Burke and a few guys.

"It's been a long road to get back to this point, getting back to playing the game of hockey, the game that I love. I've been out of the game for a year and a half now. I've learned a lot. I've grown a lot. Just excited to move forward."

The other players are Michael McLeod, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube and Cal Foote.

Hart, and the other four players who sign contracts, won’t be able to begin conditioning with their teams until Nov. 15 or play in the NHL until Dec. 1.

Hart hasn’t played an NHL game since Jan. 20, 2024. He made 25 starts in what was his sixth season for the Philadelphia Flyers in 2023-24, when he recorded a 2.80 goals-against average, .906 save percentage, one shutout and 12-9-3 record before stepping away from the team.

Vegas starting goalie Adin Hill suffered a lower-body injury during its game against the Calgary Flames on Tuesday. He didn’t return after the first period, and after participating in morning skate on Thursday, will serve as backup to Akira Schmid, who subbed in to play the final two periods against the Flames.

Hart can officially make his Golden Knights debut as early as Dec. 2 when Vegas hosts the Chicago Blackhawks.

"I've heard nothing but great things about the city, the community, the fanbase, the organization and I got to meet a lot of people today, and I'm so excited to get the chance to play in front of them, and for them," Hart said. "And, just get to show the community my true character and who I am and what I'm about.

"I got to meet some guys here today. Everybody's been very welcoming. I'm just looking forward to getting things rolling here, getting to work alongside all these guys, getting to know them all, and continuing to build on the championship culture that's been established here in Las Vegas."

The Wraparound is back to discuss NHL and hockey topics in rapid-fire segments.

Should The NHL Be Concerned About The Ice For The Olympics? by The Wraparound

Here's what Emma Lingan, Michael Augello and Jim Parsons discussed in this episode:

0:00: With Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton extended, what’s the next step in the Montreal Canadiens’ organizational journey?

4:37: Can the New Jersey Devils stay competitive without Jacob Markstrom in their lineup for the next few weeks?

7:43: Will the Florida Panthers' injury struggles begin to catch up to them?

11:35: Could Zeev Buium help the Minnesota Wild become an elite offensive team?

15:20: Should Jimmy Snuggerud be the early favorite for the Calder Trophy?

18:55: Should the NHL be concerned about the untested ice for the upcoming Olympics?

22:40: Does Easton Cowan’s early success with the Toronto Maple Leafs create some urgency for a Nick Robertson trade?

29:10: How will the Edmonton Oilers organize their forward group with Zach Hyman returning?

See below for where to subscribe to the show for future episodes.

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The Pittsburgh Penguins will play their second game of the California road trip on Thursday night against the Los Angeles Kings. 

The Penguins started the California trip in Anaheim on Tuesday and jumped out to a 2-0 lead before losing by one goal, 4-3. The game was tied with less than two minutes to go in the third period when Penguins defenseman Parker Wotherspoon took a delay of game penalty by sending the puck over the glass. 

It only took seven seconds for the Ducks' power play to cash in, thanks to forward Chris Kreider. He scored from about 15 feet out to give the Ducks the lead before they bled the rest of the clock. It was a brutal break for the Penguins, who were about to get at least a point out of the game. 

They've now lost their last two games after starting the season with a 2-0-0 record. They'll try to snap that losing streak against a Kings' team that has historically been very stingy in their own end, but are off to a slow start this year, losing three of their first four games (1-2-1 record). 

The Penguins conducted a morning skate before Thursday's game, and it didn't take long to notice that first-round pick Benjamin Kindel wasn't participating in line rushes. That's because he will be a healthy scratch for this game, per Penguins head coach Dan Muse. That shouldn't be too much of a surprise after Muse spoke earlier this week about their plans for both Kindel and fellow rookie Harrison Brunicke.

Here are the lines:

Forwards

Rakell-Crosby-Rust

Mantha-Malkin-Brazeau

Hallander-Novak-Tomasino

Dewar-Lizotte-Acciari

Defensemen

Wotherspoon-Karlsson

Shea-Letang

Jones-Brunicke

Goaltenders

Arturs Silovs

Tristan Jarry

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Muse confirmed after the skate that Silovs will start in goal after Jarry played against the Ducks. Muse has been rotating the goalies between starts thus far. 

Puck drop is set for 10 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh. 

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