The bad news is that Sidney Crosby’s been down this road with concussions before. The good news is that he’s taken lessons from those tough memories.
Look, there’s no doubt that it’s going to sting for Crosby to sit out tonight’s season-opener for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
They’re raising their Stanley Cup banner, and even if you roll your eyes at Crosby vs. Alex Ovechkin talk, there’s little sense denying the Washington Capitals’ position as one of the East’s favorites. It likely burns to watch such an electric game in street clothes.
That said, Crosby’s learned a thing or two since suffering that fateful concussion against David Steckel in 2011.
One might accuse the Penguins and Crosby of rushing back into things that time around, but Crosby’s saying all the right things about avoiding recurring symptoms this time around.
Now, that might be easier said than done - as he admits, every head injury is different - yet it’s heartening that the superstar is taking a cautious approach.
More on Crosby’s concussion situation and history
It’s a good sign that he’s at least practicing
Crosby insists the injury didn’t happen at the injury-heavy World Cup