Overview
- Kindel lost consciousness shortly after the Penguins' plane left Salt Lake City on Oct. 20 and the team described the event as a vasovagal episode.
- Team medical staff gave Kindel oxygen on the flight, the plane returned to Salt Lake City, and he spent the night in a local hospital before returning to Pittsburgh.
- The Penguins placed the 19-year-old on injured reserve, conducted additional testing in Pittsburgh, and cleared him for limited conditioning over the weekend.
- Kindel skated in full practice on Tuesday and said he was grateful for the medical staff and glad to be back, while teammates and coach called his presence an encouraging sign.
- A vasovagal episode is a common reflex that causes fainting when the nervous system overreacts, and the club says day-to-day medical clearance will determine when Kindel can rejoin games, which affects short-term lineup decisions.