HockeyCrosby's outlook less foggy

Beginning of Story Content

Sidney Crosby, centre, looked fit at Wednesday's press conference to update his status. (Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press)

We didn't expect Sidney Crosby to declare himself 100 per cent, raring and ready to go for the upcoming NHL season during the update on his head injury on Wednesday.

There were, after all, the whispers last month that he still was dealing with post-concussion symptoms as he ratcheted up his off-season workouts.

But as Crosby answered questions in Pittsburgh, flanked by Penguins general manager Ray Shero and Dr. Michael Collins and Dr. Ted Carrick - the two are specialists who have treated and monitored Crosby's progress - it was evident that this is a young man who's very much on the mend.

Crosby sat there looking fit in his white with double-blue trim polo shirt. He didn't seem confused or slow to react to questions. He didn't seem like an elite athlete who has played his last game.

"Pretty slight one," he replied when asked if there was a chance that he may have played his last game. "I wouldn't bet on that."

There seemed to be a rush this summer to paint a doom-and-gloom picture for No. 87, even though he has stayed silent on his condition since late April. Depending on which concussion specialist delivered an opinion - even though he or she had not examined Crosby - or which gossip was out there, Crosby's career was either over or he should sit out the 2011-12 season.

Crosby said he never considered retirement. He and his doctors admitted some fogginess and headaches returned when the intensity of his workouts increased in the summer. But they also made it clear that in the last three weeks Crosby's condition has been upgraded.

Collins examined Crosby on Tuesday and saw "significant improvement" since the last time he checked out his patient. The prognosis was for a full recovery.

"It's Christmas for Sid Crosby and the people who care for him," is how Carrick described Crosby's current status, meaning the player has travelled well down the road to recovery.

But as swift as some were to write off Crosby for good this summer, the Penguins and the Crosby camp are proceeding with caution. There is no timeline for his return. We repeat, there is no timeline for his return.

NHL training camps open a week from Friday. Crosby and his doctors would not commit at this time as to when the Penguins captain will participate with his teammates in non-contact drills.

Instead, the drill for Crosby will be to improve from his current 90 per cent state to a full recovery, which means staying symptom-free following intense workouts for an extended period. The next step would be to introduce light contact to Crosby's on-ice sessions and then full contact before he will be given a green light to play again.

Collins described Crosby as a Ferrari, pointing out that his 100 per cent is not a normal 100 per cent. So even though a Ferrari can go zero to 100 in a flash, Crosby's road to recovery may take a bit longer than a normal NHLer's. Collins felt that way from the outset because of the head trauma that Crosby suffered as the result of two separate hits he took that caused his absence from the game.

"We have to make sure all the cows are back in the barn," is how Collins put it when he  explained what has to happen in order for Crosby to return.

The cows may not be back in the barn, but the herd appears to be heading in that direction. After all, Crosby revealed that he hasn't felt better since he suffered his two headshots in back-to-back games in early January.

And, for Crosby's personal health, that indeed was news worth the wait.

End of Story Content

Back to accessibility links