Penguins forward Kindel returns to practice after collapsing on flight

Kindel, a 19-year-old forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL, North America's top professional ice hockey league), has returned to practice with the team after a health scare on a flight. The club will determine his status in the near future.

What happened on the plane

Last Tuesday Kindel became unwell shortly after the plane took off from Salt Lake City airport. The Penguins were flying home after a four-game road trip. General manager Kyle Dubas said that about ten minutes after takeoff the player collapsed. In hospital he was diagnosed with a vasovagal reaction, a sudden response in which blood pressure drops sharply and the heart rate slows, causing a brief reduction of blood flow to the brain and fainting.

After being taken to the University of Utah medical center hospital in Salt Lake City, Kindel was discharged the next day and returned to Pittsburgh. On Thursday he was at the team's practice facility, where additional medical tests were carried out and continued over the following days.

Comments from player and coach

"Honestly, these were a few strange days," Kindel said on Tuesday. "I feel normal now and I'm happy to be with the guys. I'm looking forward to the rest of the season." He added that the episode is in the past and he has already forgotten it.

Head coach Dan Muse said the forward looked good in practice on the second line alongside Evgeni Malkin and Egor Chinakhov.

Season numbers

Kindel was the 11th pick in the 2025 draft, and this is his second NHL season. In his debut season he recorded 35 points (17+18) in 77 games, and this season he has four points (2+2) in nine games.

After four road losses, the Penguins have won two straight games with Shilov in goal. The team has 11 points from 12 games and sits 14th in the Eastern Conference. Its next game is at home against the Utah Mammoth, overnight into Friday.