Hockey Night in CanadaCrosby skates, hockey world awaits update

Sidney Crosby continued to skate towards a comeback on Monday, but there was no further update on his status after it was revealed on the weekend that he suffered a neck injury in addition to the concussion problems he has endured for the past year.

Sidney Crosby continued to skate towards a comeback on Monday, but there was no further update on his status after it was revealed on the weekend that he suffered a neck injury in addition to the concussion problems he has endured for the past year. 

Crosby was told his neck injury has completely healed. But when the ailment occurred has not been pinpointed. The Penguins expect to update Crosby's status once the results of recent CAT scan and MRI examination can be examined by an independent specialist. He underwent these tests when he was examined by neurological spine specialist Dr. Robert S. Bray in Los Angeles last week. 

"He was pretty excited about being back on the ice with some of his teammates today," Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said. "We are currently waiting for the results of an independent physician and until that time there will not be an update on his condition."

Since Dr. Bray's findings were revealed there has been speculation that Crosby has not been pleased with the care he has received by the Penguins medical staff. But Bylsma denied that was the case.

"At this point I feel, Sidney feels that he's gotten every possible support from the Penguins and the Penguins medical staff," Bylsma said. "The situation is to try to find an answer of where he is at and to find the best road for recovery."

Crosby skated in an up-tempo manner for 45 minutes with injured Penguins Jordan Staal and Simon Despres at the Consol Energy Center on Monday. He has been on the ice daily for two weeks, even though he has spent time away from Pittsburgh to receive treatment and seek answers from three different specialists. First, he went to see therapist Alex Guerrero in Utah. Then he visited chiropractor and neurological specialist Ted Carrick in Atlanta before flying to see Bray in California.

Prolonged absence

"He isn't at full exertion or close to contact or anything like that," Bylsma said. "There is not a heart-rate monitor on him or anything like that, but I'm sure it got up there a little bit."

With the exception of the eight games he suited up for in his brief comeback from Nov. 21 to Dec. 5, the native of Cole Harbour, N.S. has missed 82 games in the past 13 months. Because of Crosby's prolonged absence from the game, along with Philadelphia Flyers tough defenceman Chris Pronger and others who have suffered head injuries in the past two seasons, concussions were a constant topic of discussion during the NHL all-star weekend in Ottawa.

"I think it was alarming the last year and a half, the amount of concussions that were being diagnosed and the amount of time that guys are missing, obviously with Sid and his situation," Tampa Bay Lightning star Steven Stamkos said. "I think that was kind of the thing that made it go over the top, seeing a player of his calibre and the amount of time that he's missed."

The Crosby concussion saga has been an eye-opening episode in the area of head injuries. It is never easy for a hockey player to be told to rest and wait to recover from an injury setback like a concussion. They want to be treated. They want to rehab. They want to work hard to return.

Crosby has gone outside the traditional boundaries to treat a concussion. He has sought remedies from specialists like Carrick and others.

As a result of the Crosby concussion, the NHL also has introduced a broader scope of penalties and suspensions for headshots. This new standard has been met with criticism in some corners and applause in others.

"Fourteen, 15 years ago when I started, you weren't allowed to elbow, but if your shoulder hit [into an opponent's] head you didn't think much of it," Calgary Flames captain Jarome Iginla said. "You finished your check. Now there is a little bit of a different way to hit, and there is a learning curve. We aren't always going to agree with the suspension or penalties, but for the most part we'll adjust."

Bigger players, faster game

Of course, the players are bigger and the game has never been faster. New rules that have helped limit interference and obstruction as well as the elimination of the centre line for two-line offsides have been contributing factors. So has lighter equipment, including lighter skates.

There is talk that the NHL may put the centre line back in the game or eliminate the trapezoid area behind the net, the only area below the goal-line in which a goalie can play the puck. These ideas will be debated at the NHL general manager meetings in mid-March.

In the meantime, hockey equipment company Bauer unveiled a new helmet during all-star weekend. The Re-Akt has a free-floating stretchable liner that moves independently from the rest of the helmet. Bauer believes by floating, the liner is capable of better protecting a player's head from rotational forces that can lead to concussions.

Stamkos and Philadelphia Flyers standout centre Claude Giroux, both under contract to Bauer, will wear the new helmet.

"No helmet is going to completely prevent concussions, but helmets like this one are providing an added level of protection," said Giroux, who missed four games with a concussion in early December.  

Also in development is a product called Shockbox from an Ottawa-based company Impakt Protective. These sensors can be put inside helmets, measure the impact to the head and deliver that information to a trainer or team doctor through wireless devices.