The Pittsburgh Penguins endured a frightening situation on their flight home from Salt Lake City following Monday’s 5-4 loss to the Utah Mammoth at Delta Center. Sophomore forward Ben Kindel suffered a medical episode shortly after takeoff, causing the plane to return to the airport. General manager Kyle Dubas provided more clarity Thursday. Dubas told […]
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After some concerning news was announced on Tuesday involving Pittsburgh Penguins youngster Ben Kindel, GM Kyle Dubas has provided some clarity on the situation.
The 19-year-old forward is expected to return to practices, but will be under strict guidelines in his way back.
The Pittsburgh Penguins placed forwards Ben Kindel and Bryan Rust on injured reserve Thursday before facing the Florida Panthers, recalling forward Rutger McGroarty and defenseman Chase Pietila from Wilkes‑Barre/Scranton. Kindel suffered a vasovagal syncope episode on the team’s flight from Utah, received oxygen, and was cleared to return to Pittsburgh; he could resume practice next week pending test results. Rust missed time after an injury in Monday’s game. McGroarty, who has tallied nine points (four goals, five assists) in six AHL games, earns an extended NHL look and could crack the top‑nine forward group.
Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas shed some light on forward Ben Kindel's hospitalization earlier this week.
The Panthers (5‑3‑2, 4th in the Atlantic) visit the Penguins (3‑6‑1, 7th in the Metro) at 7 p.m. ET on Oct. 22, streamed on ESPN+ and aired locally on Sportsnet Pittsburgh. Florida comes off a 5‑1 loss in Ottawa but had won three straight before that, while Pittsburgh enjoys a light schedule ahead. Key storylines include the Panthers’ injury‑hit roster—Aleksander Barkov, Brad Marchand, and starter Jacob Markstrom are out—and the possible NHL debut of 6‑8″ rookie goalie Cooper Black, who could become the league’s tallest netminder. Both teams struggle defensively, with Pittsburgh’s front‑of‑net traffic and Florida’s goaltending under scrutiny. The matchup marks the only Panthers appearance in Pittsburgh this season, with future games slated for Dec. 10 and March 4.
The Penguins host the Florida Panthers at 7:00 PM on Oct. 22, hoping to snap a four‑game losing streak after a tough Western Conference road trip. Team activities were halted Wednesday following a medical incident involving Ben Kindel on the flight from Salt Lake City, and GM Kyle Dubas will address the media Thursday before the game. Meanwhile, the AHL Wilkes‑Barre/Scranton Penguins sit 3‑2‑1, leading the league with 25 goals, highlighted by Rutger McGroarty and Avery Hayes among the top scorers. The matchup is broadcast on Sportsnet Pittsburgh.
Here is everything you need to know about Penguins vs. Panthers, including TV and streaming options for the game.
DK's Daily Shot of Penguins: There’ll be a game
Between The Pipes: Adrian Denny on the Mammoth’s win over the Penguins, Utah in on Dylan Larkin and Hellebuyck (?) + more first seen on ESPN700 The Utah Mammoth Analyst for Hockey Night in Utah on their recent win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, Could the Mammoth […]
The post Between The Pipes: Adrian Denny on the Mammoth’s win over the Penguins, Utah in on Dylan Larkin and Hellebuyck (?) + more first appeared on ESPN700 .
The Pittsburgh Penguins have canceled today’s practice after their team plane returned to Salt Lake City to address a medical issue involving staff member Ben Kindel. Kindel was hospitalized in Utah, described as conscious, alert, and stable, and the team remained there for hours before departing for Pittsburgh around 5:30 p.m. ET. No media availability is scheduled today, and GM/President of Hockey Operations will address the situation tomorrow before Thursday’s home game against the Florida Panthers.
Connor Hellebuyck talks picking up. Do the Utah Mammoth have a goaltending issue, and the Pittsburgh Penguins looking to get younger.
Connor Hellebuyck talks picking up. Do the Utah Mammoth have a goaltending issue, and the Pittsburgh Penguins looking to get younger.
Ben Kindel had a medical episode on a plane and the Penguins had to turn around. Bowen Byram not in concussion protocol. The Oilers will get a couple of healthy bodies back soon.
Ben Kindel had a medical episode on a plane and the Penguins had to turn around. Bowen Byram not in concussion protocol. The Oilers will get a couple of healthy bodies back soon.
The Pittsburgh Penguins could trade three veterans this season as GM Kyle Dubas aims to age the roster. Despite a 3-6-1 start, the team is reportedly targeting forwards Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell, plus defenseman Erik Karlsson, before the March deadline. Rust carries a $5.1 M AAV contract with no trade protection, Rakell has an eight‑team no‑trade clause and a $5 M cap hit, while Karlsson’s $10 M salary will be partially retained. Interest is brewing from the Leafs, Oilers, Kraken, Hurricanes and Bruins.
The Wilkes‑Barre/Scranton Penguins, Pittsburgh’s AHL affiliate, sit 3‑2‑1 and rank among the league’s top goal‑scoring teams (25 goals). After a 4‑2 loss and a 6‑3 win in Cleveland, forward Rutger McGroarty rebounds from zero points to nine in his last four games, while Avery Hayes matches him with nine points, tying for seventh in league scoring. GM Kyle Dubus cites a slow start and players feeling “too good for the level,” but prospects like McGroarty, Hayes, Tristan Broz and others are pushing for NHL call‑ups. Recent recaps and rookie stats—Mikhail Ilyin (7 points), Bill Zonnon (5), Jake Livanavage (5)—highlight the development surge.
Penguins forward Ben Kindel, 19, is in stable condition after a “medical episode” forced the team’s flight from Salt Lake City to return and the player was airlifted to University of Utah Hospital. The team disclosed no further details. The roundup also notes prospect Tristan Broz’s push for more NHL ice time after a strong AHL season, and the hiring of former Washington Nationals CFO Ted Towne as Pittsburgh’s new CFO, plus league-wide injury and trade updates.
DK's Daily Shot of Penguins: Respect for Ben Kindel
The Pittsburgh Penguins' team plane returned to Salt Lake City after Ben Kindel suffered a medical episode. The 19-year-old is in stable condition.
The Pittsburgh Penguins announced Tuesday that their team plane had to return to its departure airport after a medical episode involving forward Ben Kindel. The Penguins had been in Salt Lake City to play the Utah Mammoth on Monday night. They landed back at Salt Lake City International Airport shortly after takeoff. In a statement,
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Pittsburgh Penguins forward Ben Kindel has been hospitalized after a medical episode on the team plane. The 19-year-old is in stable condition at the University of Utah Hospital.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are going through a tough season so far, and things got even more bizarre on Tuesday. The Penguins team plane had to stop a trip and land after a medical episode involving one of the players, per the team. Forward Ben Kindel was on the plane when he experienced a medical episode. […]
The post Penguins team plane halted by ‘medical episode’ involving Ben Kindel appeared first on ClutchPoints .
The Pittsburgh Penguins disclosed that forward Ben Kindel suffered a medical episode aboard the team’s flight back from Utah on Oct. 20, 2026. Team doctors treated him on the plane, and an ambulance escorted him to the University of Utah Hospital after landing. Kindel, who logged 18:53 of ice time in the 5‑4 loss to the Mammoth and has tallied two goals and two assists in nine games this season, is a key 19‑year‑old forward for the Pens. The organization says staff are with him in Utah and hopes the evaluations return clear early this week.
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Ben Kindel was taken to the hospital after a medical emergency during the team's flight out of Salt Lake City on Tuesday.