Ben Kindel | F | Pittsburgh Penguins
10 GP | 3G | 3A | 6 PTS
The best news first: Ben Kindel is healthy and back on the ice. The 19-year-old lost consciousness on the team plane on October 20 during what the Penguins described as a vasovagal episode, a sudden drop in heart rate and blood pressure. The flight turned back to Salt Lake City and he was taken to hospital. It was a frightening moment, but Pittsburgh’s GM said Kindel had no previous history of these episodes. After testing, treatment, and two full practices, he was cleared to return Thursday night against Utah. Then he scored a goal and set up another in his first game back.
The opportunity
Kindel’s role is the main reason to get excited. Pittsburgh’s coaching staff moved the second-year forward up the lineup during his return to practice, putting him in a middle-six center role alongside Evgeni Malkin. That’s a big promotion for a player who mostly worked in a depth role before the scare. The Penguins are also missing veteran winger Bryan Rust until at least December, so there are minutes and offensive chances available for anyone who can take them. Kindel did exactly that in his first game back.
He has also shown he can handle bigger moments. Earlier in his career, injuries pushed him onto Pittsburgh’s top power-play unit, and he held his own surrounded by stars. Coaches value his effort without the puck, which makes him a player they want to keep on the ice.
The risk
Kindel is still a teenager, and his production before the medical episode was modest, with four points in his first nine games. Pittsburgh has stumbled through a rough start, and young players on struggling teams can see their minutes come and go. His top-six role is new, so he’ll need to keep producing to hold onto it. His health is also worth watching. All signs point to this being a one-time scare, but it’s still something to keep an eye on.
Verdict: Kindel is worth an add in deeper leagues and a strong watch-list name in standard formats. If he holds his spot next to Malkin, he has the skill to turn into a steady 40-plus point producer this season. Dynasty and keeper managers should be buying now, because a former first-round pick taking on a bigger role at 19 is exactly the kind of player who breaks out. In redraft, take a flyer while he’s hot and see whether the promotion sticks.