Penguins’ Ben Kindel back in Pittsburgh after medical episode on plane in Utah

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Penguins forward Ben Kindel was cleared to return to Pittsburgh and could play as early as next week after suffering a medical episode on the team’s flight from Salt Lake City earlier this week.

General Manager Kyle Dubas offered the update on Thursday, saying the 19-year-old sophomore centre had a sudden drop in heart rate and blood pressure that reduced flow to his brain – called a vasovagal syncope – on their Tuesday flight out of Utah before the plane was redirected back to Salt Lake City International Airport.

The incident happened about 10 minutes into the flight, Dubas said via NHL.com. He added that Kindel received oxygen on board before being transported to the University of Utah medical centre.

“I met with him earlier this morning. Very clearly shaken,” Dubas said, via NHL.com, adding there was nothing to indicate Kindel was susceptible to the condition. “I think we just have to continue to help him with our resources.

“For me, this is the third or fourth time where it suddenly jumps from hockey to life. … You’d much rather talk about the team playing well or playing poorly, diagnose it and why that is. But you get reminded every so often, probably rightfully so, that there’s more at stake than just the wins and losses.”

More testing expected to come

The update came on the same day that Kindel, a Coquitlam, B.C., native, was placed on injured reserve, although Dubas said he could begin practicing within a week if further testing reveals no complications.

“I mean, so tough to put a timeframe on it,” Dubas said via NHL.com. “We play tonight. We play Saturday night. … Our hope is to get everything done, tested, back into training here in the next four days or so and see if he can return to practice on Sunday or Monday.

“That’s why I would put an asterisk on that by saying we’ll see how everything goes before then.”

Penguins defenceman Erik Karlsson told NHL.com he was “happy everything is all right.

“Glad to see Kindy is here today and in good spirits,” he said.

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Team doctor on plane at time

The incident was concerning enough that Dubas and other members of the coaching, medical and front office staff stayed with Kindel at the hospital on Tuesday. That group included team physician Dr. Darmesh Vyas, who was on the flight when the incident happened.

Sportsnet‘s Kyle Bukauskas and Elliotte Friedman said that is not a regular occurrence this early in the season.

“It is in the playoffs,” Friedman said during Thursday’s episode of their 32 Thoughts podcast. “I think teams generally travel with their own doctors, but in the regular season – particularly for short trips – there are teams that don’t.

“Thankfully the Penguins do and that played a huge role in this.”

Kindel, the 11th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft after starring with the Western Hockey League’s Calgary Hitmen, has suited up in nine games this season for the Penguins, recording two goals and two assists. He missed the first game of the season due to a lower-body injury.

The 5-foot-11, 183-pound centre is coming off a successful rookie season that saw him score 17 goals and add 18 assists in 77 games to finish ninth in Calder Trophy voting.

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