"Penguins center and captain Sidney Crosby left the club's West Coast trip early, returning Saturday to Pittsburgh so he could go to a medical appointment.

The club stressed that Crosby's appointment did not represent a major development -- such as a setback or a specific step forward -- in his recovery from a concussion that has kept him out of games since January.

"There's no timetable. There's no date. There's no point in the future worth talking about yet," coach Dan Bylsma said. "Just a scheduled appointment."

Crosby's appointment originally was scheduled for Monday. The team is practicing that day and then is planning a special outing later that day and Tuesday at a regional resort. Crosby is expected to participate in practice Monday and the team function."