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Sidney Crosby’s condition improving, no timetable to return; Wants head shots punished

Evgeni Malkin, Sidney Crosby

Pittsburgh Penguins’ Sidney Crosby, right, waits to give his jersey to a fan as teammate Evgeni Malkin, left rear, of Russia signs autographs after a 4-2 win over the New Jersey Devils in an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, April 5, 2011. Malkin is out for the season with a knee injury, and Crosby has been out since January with a concussion. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

AP

After a long wait, Sidney Crosby has finally spoken up about his condition in recovering from a concussion suffered back in January. Crosby hasn’t spoken with the media about how he’s doing since April and with reports that had been coming out almost weekly about how Crosby wouldn’t be able to start the season, it was Sid’s turn to clear the air.

As it turns out, we found out that things are progressing as slow as ever for Crosby but not because he’s having continual setbacks but rather because he and his doctors want to get him to 100% before having him engage in anything physical.

Flanked by Dr. Ted Yarrick and Dr. Michael Collins as well as Penguins GM Ray Shero, Crosby had his condition best laid out by Dr. Collins even comparing Crosby to a Ferrari when it comes to his normal physical condition.

The big news, however, is that Crosby isn’t close to returning and Dr. Collins says that he has “no earthly idea” if Crosby will be ready to go on October 6 when the Penguins open the season in Vancouver. Crosby, however, remains highly positive through this long process.
“Mentally I feel the best I’ve felt. It’s been a tough road. I did not give a lot of thought to (retirement),” Crosby said.

Collins’ assessment of how they’ll continue to do things with Sid The Kid is pretty straightforward.

“We’ll introduce contact in a systematic, careful way. The prognosis is excellent that he won’t have long-term problems from the injury.”

“I’m optimistic Sid will have a very long, fruitful career.”


As for how long the Penguins are going to wait things out for Crosby to get better, Penguins GM Ray Shero said, “He’s worth the wait. He won’t be rushed.”

When Crosby was asked about head shots and what should be done about them, Crosby was very open about eliminating them from the game and hopes that the league will be even more proactive than it has been in doing so. Crosby intimated that the game is already great and that taking out head shots, whether intentional or not, would only allow the game to continue to be great.

Hard logic to argue with there although we wonder just how accidental shots to the head would be punished either on or off the ice. Sometimes things just happen, but Crosby says guys have to be responsible no matter what.

“A guy’s got to be responsible with his stick, why shouldn’t he be responsible with the rest of his body when he’s going to hit someone,” Crosby said. “Whether it’s accidental or not accidental, you’ve got to be responsible out there.”

While Crosby continues to rehabilitate and improve and will eventually get back to action, he’s got an important position now if he chooses to take it. He can become the guy that leads the charge in changing the NHL culture that pooh-poohs shots to the head and in a league where concussions are all the talk, it’s one crusade that Crosby could be a game-changer for the betterment of the league.