CRANBERRY, Pa. — Ben Kindel is back in Pittsburgh and in good spirits after a frightening medical incident on the Penguins’ charter, but the 19-year-old forward will be on injured reserve while the club completes further testing.
Key takeaways
- Kindel lost consciousness shortly after the Penguins’ flight departed Salt Lake City on Tuesday and was taken to the University of Utah medical center following an emergency landing.
- Pittsburgh said the episode was vasovagal syncope, involving a sudden fall in heart rate and blood pressure that can reduce blood flow to the brain.
- The forward was cleared to return to Pittsburgh on Wednesday and could resume training within four days if testing brings no concerns.
- Kindel is expected to miss Thursday’s home game against Florida and Saturday’s meeting with Nashville.
- The Penguins enter Thursday at 3-6-1, having dropped seven of their previous eight games.
Testing comes before any return to the ice
Kindel became ill about 10 minutes into Tuesday’s flight out of Salt Lake City, one day after logging 18:53 in Pittsburgh’s 5-4 loss to the Utah Mammoth. He received oxygen aboard the aircraft before the medical diversion, then was transported to the University of Utah medical center.
General manager Kyle Dubas said Thursday there had been no prior indication that Kindel was prone to this kind of episode. The organization is now trying to determine what caused it, while making sure the rookie has the support and medical resources he needs.
Dubas said Kindel remained shaken when they met Thursday morning, only about 48 hours after the incident. The GM stressed that moments like this quickly move hockey results to the background, reminding everyone around the club that the player’s health matters more than the standings.
Pittsburgh placed Kindel on injured reserve Thursday. The plan is for additional examinations, followed by a possible return to training in roughly four days if there are no setbacks. Dubas said a Sunday or Monday practice appearance is possible, though he made clear that timetable is not firm.
Defenseman Erik Karlsson said the room was relieved to see Kindel at the rink and in positive spirits. The Penguins are targeting a careful path forward rather than rushing the young forward back into the lineup.
Kindel has two goals and two assists through nine games this season. Pittsburgh selected him 11th overall in the 2025 NHL Draft, and he produced 17 goals and 18 assists in 77 games as a rookie.
Penguins turn toward a home-ice reset
The medical scare arrived at the end of a bruising trip for Pittsburgh. The club canceled Wednesday’s practice after the extended travel day, and returns home following four regulation losses on the road in which it was beaten 21-11 on the scoreboard.
Captain Sidney Crosby said the situation put the team’s recent skid in perspective, while also giving the group a chance to rally around one another. He described the Penguins’ room as a family and said the goal is for players to feel that support regardless of how long they have been with the organization.
The Penguins host the Florida Panthers at PPG Paints Arena on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET, then welcome the Nashville Predators on Saturday. Kindel is likely to be unavailable for both games, with the Oct. 29 home rematch against Utah representing a possible return date if his recovery and testing stay on track.
Dubas said the club’s immediate job is twofold: look after its people, then prepare them to perform. After a difficult road swing, Pittsburgh has a chance to put the trip behind it on home ice.
