Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby unlikely to play in regular season opener -NHL News Update
The National Hockey League (NHL) is set to kick off the 2010-2011 regular season but it will have to be without one of their most celebrated players in history, Pittsburgh Penguins captain, Sidney Crosby.
Still in the recovery process of a severe concussion sustained earlier in January due to back-to-back hits in two regular season matchups, Crosby has been in the rehabilitation process ever since. With his current condition and latest reports from Pittsburgh
Penguins, it is highly unlikely that the former first overall pick will make a debut on Thursday, October 6, as the team visits Vancouver Canucks.
Pittsburgh Penguins head coach, Dan Bylsma, certainly believes that the 24-year-old is making unprecedented progress but believing that he will play on Thursday would be uncalled for.
"In terms of him and his rehab, I think it's positive", Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said. "We play next Thursday and it's a few short days away. We haven't progressed to the next level yet".
Good news for the player is that he is getting closer to that stage which will eventually have him playing with Pittsburgh Penguins. Since the start of Pittsburgh’s preseason series, Crosby has been travelling with the team and participating in before game
practice sessions.
For Penguins general manager, Ray Shero, missing out on the season opener is not a concern, having him back in full health is the need of the time.
"Knock on wood, everything is progressing for him, it appears", Shero said. "On the ice he's practicing hard, and that's a big part of his recovery".
Being a player who can contribute more than a 100 points season to his teams’ total is much more than the club could ever ask for. Last season, the Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, Canada native, potted 66 points (32 goals, 34 assists) in 41 games, which certainly
is impressive.
Penguins will return back to Pittsburgh after three regular season matchups, after which Crosby is confident of making a debut.
"When we get back from the trip, maybe I'll see a doctor then", Crosby said. "Every day I just try to go as hard as I can.”Hopefully things will keep going as they're going".
Anticipating Sidney Crosby’s return on October 11 as Pittsburgh faced Florida Panthers, it will be thrilling to see the top NHLer back in action.
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