Crosby Says Has "No Clue" If He'll Be Back This Season

BOCA RATON--Hard to say whether this was news more encouraging for Sidney Crosby, the Pittsburgh Penguins or the NHL.

It's certainly big for all three.

The Penguins captain hit the ice for 15 minutes this morning, the first time since Jan. 5 he has been on skates since suffering one or possibly two concussions in the early days of 2011, starting with the Winter Classic. He has missed 29 games.

The club's web site released the news this morning, saying Crosby skated for about 15 minutes, shot some pucks and skated around cones. He told the Pittsburgh Tribune Review afterwards he has "no clue" if he will be able to return to play this season.

"That's impossible to say," he said. "It's progress. I'm nowhere close (to playing). I just want to get through it (this morning's workout) without getting a headache, let alone worry about my conditioning."

He did say he is feeling better.

"Every day things are pretty good now," he said.

The Penguins, who are without both Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, should be enormously encouraged by even the possibility that their captain could return this season.

For the NHL, after an awful week for the Bettman administration in which the league was lambasted in public and the media for its handling of the violent Zdeno Chara hit on Max Pacioretty and another player, Pavel Kubina, was suspended for a head shot violation, this was good news indeed. If anything, the absence of Crosby has added a quiet, sombre undertone to the entire season, particularly since he was the league's leading scorer at the time of his injury.

His absence put into sharp relief the NHL's ongoing problems with concussions, and the GM meetings that began this morning here in Florida are expected to include a great deal of discussion on both concussion protocols and possible rule changes. The league announced a five-pronged program to attack the concussion problem on Monday, and Crosby said he's watching what these meetings produce.

"I think everyone is interested," he said. "There's been talk about rule changes. We'll see what happens," he said. 

Crosby was asked if he thinks all head shots should be banned.

"That’s a great question. I’d like to say yes," he said. "But it’s more than just saying that. There’s obviously got to be some clairity. Everything’s got to be looked at. It’s a pretty fast game. There may be times when guys maybe don’t (aim) for the head but come into contact with the head. What do you do in that situation?"

 

Comments

[Wade]

Hi Damien,

I have to say as a hockey fan and a parent I read about Crosby's return with completely mixed emotions. Any fan would love to see him back, but, well, you're a parent. What would you tell Crosby if he was your son? I honestly would've completely accepted and respected his decision to retire. I've suffered through major concussions and have no stomach to my son face the same risk. I think I would've preferred to see Crosby hang them up and become the most vocal advocate for changes in the game.

[FrenchConnection]

How about we ban hard plastic elbow pads!!!!!

[DB]

Totally agree with the banning of hard plastic equipment (aka weapons) but I also hope Sydney will stop admiring his passes and pay attention to the play more so that he won't run into the shoulder of a player that is going in the other direction (Steckle DID NOT hit Crosby - accidental contact - watch the Youtube footage - reverse angle clearly shows it) and I also hope that players like Crosby don't go hard into the boards only to turn into a check rather than away from them (drawing penalties via "hits from behind"). I'm all for the reduction of concussions but let's not have a knee-jerk reaction and blame all of the wrong things. Chara's hit was not dirty (poor arena design and really bad timing),

There are big guys playing this game and it is by its very nature a tough sport. Learn to take a hit, learn to throw a hit, reduce the "body armour" and show more respect for fellow players but let's not dumb this game down any more than it is otherwise we will be playing flag hockey in no time at all!!

[Janice Jacobs]

I must agree, as a parent I would seriously caution my child about the ramification of another head injury.
As a Crosby fan that is very good news!!
He is just a kid, he needs to take care of himself first and foremost!

[Kirk]

Damien, FrenchConnection made a good point. It has been brought up before. Those elbow and shoulder pads are like rocks compared to what we wore in the 70's and early 80's. There must be a correlation with the new equipment. Do you have any thoughts on that aspect? In my opinion this is something fixable.

[TedNes]

Right on FrenchConnection....I'm no shill for Don Cherry, but he's been saying it for years....guys like Keon and Sittler weren't getting their bells rung at this rate---look at the felt based padding they had.....ah, but the guys suiting up like muscular macho warriors is good for marketing, right?......I just watched my 12 year old 5'9" 100lb son suit up for hockey camp this morning.....he was much larger coming out of the dressing room than going in!......again, right on...time for a rethink on pads....

[dv]

That is the NHL's problem not looking at the ways it can minize injuries without adding new rules. Plastic elbow pads is one. Glass between benches is not needed. If professionals can not control themselves that a glass barrier is needed... Camera holes in the glass end boards have cut more than one person this season. How about accelerometers in helmets to tell when you've suffered a head blow? My iphone has one, why can't my helmet? All things that can be done without changing rules to change the game.

[LAWRENCE PAUL]

I TOTALLY AGREE WITH FIRST COMMENT POSTED
OUR GAME IS IN JEOPARDY IF WE DONT PROTECT OUR KIDS

[Mark]

I tend to agree with Wade, that retirement should be looked at very seriously here. How can anyone play against this guy anymore? Everyone will be afraid to touch the guy in fear of putting him out for extended period again, or ending his career all together. He ain't coming back this year, I'd put alot money down on that. Is it now just a question of when he gets the next one, and whether he can come back from it? Its sad that we may well be witnessing the end of the greatest player of our generation.

[Claudio]

Notice he's wearing the same helmet design that barely changed in the last 40 years? You can excoriate, regulate and educate all you want but it won't eliminate the risk of serious concussions in a fast-moving game like hockey. It's time pro and amateur leagues alike sink big cash into researching better helmet technologies. There's a human probe sitting on Mars right now here on Earth, the planet's best hockey player is wearing the equivalent of a yogurt container with cotton balls stuffed in it.

[Seo]

It would be sad if this was a career ending injury so the rumours were saying on Friday. Obviously, he is getting better, as the doctors and the organization wouldn't let him go near the ice if there was any indication he was not improving. If it comes down to the Pens making a cup final appearance, I can see him coming back for that. Otherwise, Sid should rest until September.

[canadianclair]

With the like of Cherry, Ron Wilson and Brian Burke spouting off like they did over the weekend on this subject suggests little support in "Leafnation" for good hockey, by skilled players with a team target ie the playoffs.
Skilled teams like the Habs, Kings and Canucks certainly don't have the ugly side to their game or am I a tad blind to this issue.
Milbury and Hrudey certainly make sense on the matter.
Keep the faith good hockey may come your way (someday) :)

[tabernac]

Someone will hit him five minutes into his first game back. The head hunters of the league are waiting with baited breath for his return to the ice.

[othermark]

A bit off topic, but I still cannot believe anyone who views the Steckel hit to Crosby during the Winter Classic as incidental contact. When I see the replay, I see a player lifting his elbow to make contact with Crosby's head... and blind side at that. This is the type of play that the NHL should throw the book at. The play had moved up ice, Crosby wasn't looking and got clocked by a cheap shot. And, personally, given that boneheads like Bettman refuse to do anything about it, if I were coach of the Penguins I would put a bounty on Steckel's head (and anyone else who messed with Crosby for that matter). You can't get rid of the instigator rule, then not fill that void with strickly applied and meaningful penalties/suspensions for plays that like. The board of govenors should force Bettman to reveal his master plan at their meetings in Florida, and, if as I suspect, he does not have one... fire him. Pronto.

[sean]

Hard pads is the key if you ask me. Its always mentioned but why not just go to soft shelled pads????

[Ron]

Damien, the NHL types are saying you can't ban head shots...what about the IIHF rule that gave us some great hits and great hockey at the Olympics or the OHL rule that David Branch has said has not ruined his league. The NHL is trying very hard to make this issue compilcated when really it isn't because they are still trying to sell the mayham. Bettman's 5 point plan revealed today is smoke and mirrors. The NHL opreations office in Toronto is filled with ex players and many General Managers are ex players and still in the mode of " these hits are part of hockey". There is hope though as one of the biggest knuckle draggers, Mike Milbury, has changed his stripes and is admitting something has to be done. One more time, the Crosby hit was way late, targeted and with the elbow.

[rock]

No point in talking about the equipment being the culprit. The latest "goon-ery" is thanks to the CCHL. These "kids" have grown up in the world of Rock-em, Sock-em (Sorry Grapes), so they have "learned" that they need to take care of business themselves.
The links to the videos are in the article. It's disgusting and quite frankly, another clear exhibition of a serious underlying problem.
http://www.ottawasun.com/news/ottawa/2011/03/14/17613091.html

[Sensi-Bill]

@tabernac
.
What are the head hunters using to bait their breath? Minnows? Worms?
.
Please let me know. I wait with bated breath for your answer.
.
(Sorry. Nothing personal. Alas, it's an all too common error and I'm just having a bit of fun with it.)