"Two days after David Steckel felled Sidney Crosby with a wicked -- unintentional or otherwise -- blow to the head during the Winter Classic at Heinz Field Jan. 1, a Penguins executive was asked if Crosby had been given a concussion test in the wake of that hit.

The response was fast and firm.

No.

There was, the official said, simply no reason to.

He pointed out that Crosby has finished the game, conducted a postgame news conference and still had not reported any concussion-type symptoms.

In light of all that, what would be the rationale for having Crosby take a concussion test?

The answer came three days later, when Crosby was diagnosed with a concussion that prevented him from playing for more than 101/2 months.

Pretty tough to imagine anything like that happening in the NHL now, isn't it?"