Pittsburgh Penguins forward Ben Kindel has returned to Pittsburgh after experiencing a medical emergency during the team’s recent flight from Utah. General manager Kyle Dubas revealed that Kindel, aged 19, collapsed approximately ten minutes after the team departed from Salt Lake City. The flight was diverted back to the airport for an emergency landing, and Kindel was subsequently taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital for evaluation before being discharged on Wednesday.
Dubas explained that Kindel suffered a vasovagal episode, characterized by a sudden decrease in heart rate and blood pressure. Kindel is currently undergoing additional medical assessments at the team’s facility. Despite no prior history of collapsing, the 2025 first-round draft pick has been placed on injured reserve. While there is no definitive timeline for his return, Dubas expressed optimism that Kindel could resume training by the weekend pending further test results.
In the ongoing NHL season, Kindel has contributed two points and two assists in nine games for the Penguins. Notably, he played nearly 19 minutes during the team’s recent match against Utah on Monday night.
