Pittsburgh’s preseason got messy in a hurry Monday, and the hits kept coming beyond the scoreboard.
Benjamin Kindel was the first Penguin to go down, leaving the team’s preseason game early with a lower-body injury, according to a team announcement. He had been skating on a line with Andrei Kuzmenko and Bryan Rust, and the trio generated two shots across six shifts before Kindel’s night ended. In his place, Pittsburgh bumped Connor Dewar and Tristan Broz into the mix.
Kindel’s status is worth watching as the 2026-27 campaign approaches. He broke out in his rookie season with 17 goals and 35 points in 77 games, production few expected from a player many thought would still be outside the pro ranks. Now he looks like a real part of Pittsburgh’s top-nine, with room to take another step.
The Penguins also had another injury scare later in the day when Ville Koivunen left practice after taking a puck to the face, per King Jemison of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Koivunen was ruled out of Monday’s preseason action, which opened the door for Avery Hayes and Tanner Howe to get more run.
The 23-year-old winger signed an eight-year extension this offseason, and that deal has already put a spotlight on his 2026-27 season. He had seven points in 39 NHL games last season and added 41 points in 34 AHL games.
It’s still unclear whether Monday’s issue will affect his availability for the start of the season.
Elsewhere around the preseason, the New York Rangers lost Adam Sykora in the first period of their matchup after he sustained a lower-body injury. The team announced the injury, and Sykora appeared to be dealing with his right knee after a collision with New Jersey Devils defenseman Mikael Diotte.
He needed help getting off the ice after the hit. Before leaving, he had one shot block in four shifts.
Sykora was trying to win a bottom-six job with New York after posting five points in 11 NHL games last season. He also put up 29 points in 62 AHL games during his third full season in the league. Depending on how serious the injury turns out to be, his absence could disrupt the Rangers’ plans heading into the season.
Columbus defenseman Dante Fabbro also had a shortened night, exiting Monday’s game against the Detroit Red Wings after the second period with an upper-body injury. He logged seven minutes, blocked one shot and delivered one hit before leaving.
Last season, Fabbro averaged 16:34 of ice time over 74 games with Columbus, finishing with 11 points, a minus-16 rating and 33 penalty minutes. If he’s healthy, he should still be in line for a third-pair role, though that could change if the injury carries into the regular season.
In Other News...
Matt Rempe Suddenly Has Real Pressure In This Rangers Roster Fight
Matt Rempe got one of the more telling looks of Rangers preseason so far when he dressed against the Devils, even as most of the regulars stayed home. For a player trying to carve out an opening night role, those are the kinds of games that matter because every shift feeds into how the staff sorts out the bottom of the lineup. The roster battle around him is no longer just about energy or size, but about who can actually fit into the teams plans when the games start to count.
Rempe is in the mix for a fourth-line right wing spot, and the decision is complicated by the practical side of roster building. The Rangers have to weigh not just what each player brings on the ice, but how easy it is to move him if he does not make the club. That reality gives the competition a sharper edge, and it leaves Rempe facing a familiar but very real preseason test as the opening night roster takes shape. [Read more 🡒]
Former Rangers First-Round Pick Just Had A Wild New Start
Brennan Othmanns first preseason appearance for Calgary barely lasted a couple of shifts, but it was enough to make an impression. The former Rangers first-round pick, traded to the Flames last March, got right into the action with a scoring chance and showed the kind of energy that can catch a coachs eye as he pushes for a spot on the opening-night roster.
The night also showed how quickly things can turn for a player trying to carve out a role. Othmanns aggressive play drew a major response and a game misconduct, leaving him with a stat line that was as eventful as it was brief, while Flames coach Ryan Huska still came away seeing a noticeable impact from the short stint on the ice. [Read more 🡒]
Matt Rempe Has A Real Chance To Force The Rangers Hand
Matt Rempe is back in the picture for the Rangers at just the right time, cleared to dress for the preseason opener against the Devils after a thumb injury cost him the back half of last season. He has not played since February and is now fully healthy, giving him a chance to remind the coaching staff what he brings at a moment when roster spots are still up for grabs.
For Rempe, the assignment is straightforward: show he can help force the Rangers to make a harder decision. He is slated to work on the fourth line with Hartford center Carey Terrance and Jacob Battaglia, and every shift will matter as he tries to turn a healthy return into a serious push for a place in the lineup. [Read more 🡒]