Untitled Page

Sidney Crosby News & Rumors

Sidney Crosby could reap $20M if injuries force retirement
February 8
Toronto Star
 
"If Sidney Crosby's vexing concussion problems force him to retire, the Pittsburgh Penguins superstar is in line for a $20-million payday, thanks to a permanent disability insurance contract he purchased several years ago. Crosby, 24, is among the many high-profile and highly paid NHL players who have extensive insurance policies to complement their existing playing contracts. NHL players still receive their paychecks if they're forced out of the lineup with injuries sustained during games or practices. But off-ice insurance policies provide a financial cushion for players in case they are injured away from the rink."
For Sid, misery does love company
February 7
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"He didn't look bad on a line with Steve Sullivan and Cal O'Reilly, even though he was playing out of position. He added a nice dimension to the No. 2 power play, as well, even though the second unit isn't exactly his natural habitat. But being heavily involved in the practice at the Bell Centre didn't mean that Sidney Crosby will be in the lineup when the Penguins face Montreal tonight. He won't."
Sid takes another step, skating with teammates
February 6
NHL.com
 
"Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby took another step in his attempt to return from his latest injury, skating Monday with teammates in Montreal. It's the first time Crosby has skated with teammates since concussion symptoms started following a game against the Boston Bruins on Dec. 5. Last week, the penguins announced that an independent doctor had found that Crosby suffered some soft-tissue damage in his neck area, which may have contributed to some of the concussion-like symptoms. According to the Penguins' website, Crosby skated on a line with Steve Sullivan and Cal O'Reilly during Monday's practice at the Bell Centre. The Penguins play the Canadiens on Tuesday night."
Crosby's playing style unlikely to change
February 5
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 columnist Dave Molinari
"It would make sense, of course. When a guy's medical records from a 13-month period look like Sidney Crosby's do, making a few adjustments might seem prudent. Might seem, for example, like a good time to spend some more time out on the perimeter. There's more time and space available there, usually, and for good reason: The farther most players get from the net, the less likely they are to be seriously involved in scoring plays. That means opponents have fewer opportunities, and less incentive, to administer the kind of hits -- be they delivered by a shoulder, a stick, an elbow of a forearm -- that can lead to a guy consulting specialists in disciplines he didn't know existed a day"
Crosby skates before Penguins' road trip
February 4
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"Sidney Crosby skated apart from his Penguins teammates for about an hour Friday at Southpointe and later accompanied the club on its road trip to Boston for a game today and New Jersey on Sunday. Coach Dan Bylsma said Crosby, who hasn't played since Dec. 5, also will skate before those games. The Penguins are 13-10 since Crosby went out of the lineup."
Reader's guide to Crosby saga
February 2
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 columnist Joe Starkey
"The vague original description still works as good as anything we've heard since: "Upper-body injury." That is how the Penguins labeled Sidney Crosby's condition after he absorbed two head shots in the first week of 2011. Thirteen months, two elaborate news conferences and one brief comeback later, we have no further information. We just know Crosby is hurting."
Experts torn on Penguins captain Crosby's injury
February 2
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"Concussion and spine experts said Wednesday they did not know what to make of Penguins center Sidney Crosby's "soft tissue" neck injury. "It is not typical for a prolonged post-concussion syndrome case to have a neck injury as the cause," said Dr. Julian Bailes, chair of the NorthShore University HealthSystem department of neurology in Chicago. "That just doesn't make sense." Bailes described the soft-tissue diagnosis as a "loose, vague term." Crosby was diagnosed with a concussion Jan. 6, 2011. His brief return to NHL action Nov. 21 lasted eight games, and he has not played since Dec. 5. A Philadelphia-based orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Alexander Vaccaro, diagnosed Crosby with a soft-tissue"
Crosby diagnosed with tissue injury to upper neck
February 1
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"Sidney Crosby was reluctant to share stories with his teammates about his weekend. While they had several days off or played in the NHL All-Star Game in Ottawa, the Penguins captain was again addressing the health issues that have troubled him the past 13 months. "Basically, my break was spent in doctors' offices and MRI machines, stuff like that," Mr. Crosby said Tuesday. "I didn't have an exciting break, but some of the guys did, so it was more talking about that." Mr. Crosby had news to share, though, potentially important news. After consulting with spinal trauma expert Alexander Vaccaro and others in his growing medical team, he learned that he has a soft-tissue injury in his upper"
Patriots quarterback Brady lauds Crosby's physical therapist
February 1
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"If Tom Brady is living proof, then Sidney Crosby is in good hands. Brady, the New England Patriots' quarterback, told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review on Tuesday that he indirectly recommended Alex Guerrero, his Utah-based physical therapist, to the Penguins' ailing captain. And that he did so with full confidence. "It was through a mutual friend of mine who knows him," Brady said, referring to Crosby. Guerrero helped Brady recover from knee surgery three years ago, with those two often engaging in four sessions a day."
Team captain Crosby says there is 'no' rift with Penguins
February 1
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"Sidney Crosby's neck is not broken, and neither is his relationship with the Penguins or their medical staff. "There (are) not a lot of answers with this stuff, and (the organization) has been more than encouraging when it came to seeking out other opinions," Crosby said Tuesday during a news conference before the Penguins played the Toronto Maple Leafs at Consol Energy Center. Crosby is dealing with a soft-tissue injury in the neck and recently received an injection to alleviate swelling between his two uppermost vertebrae. He has not played since Dec. 5, though he resumed on-ice workouts Jan. 13. There remains no timetable for his return, general manager Ray Shero said."
Doctor on Crosby: No broken neck, rather a 'treatable' tissue injury
February 1
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"Penguins center and captain Sidney Crosby did not and does not have a broken neck, a specialist in Philadelphia reported to the team. He does have a soft tissue injury that is treatable and could be causing his recurring problems with motion and balance. Crosby had been attributing those symptoms to a concussion he had last year. When those symptoms are gone, Crosby will be cleared to return to the lineup. The specialist is Alexander Vaccaro, a spinal trauma expert at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia and co-director of the Spinal Cord Center at Thomas Jefferson University. He is past president of the American Spinal Injury Association."
Penguins say captain Crosby's diagnosis is promising
January 31
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"Sidney Crosby did sustain a neck injury, maybe this latest diagnosis will be the key to his recovery, Penguins teammates said Monday. "It's great to know, when something is wrong, to know what's going on," defenseman Kris Letang said. "Now he can really focus on getting back and treat whatever is wrong." Crosby skated yesterday at Consol Energy Center, two days after the team confirmed that a Los Angeles-based spine specialist diagnosed Crosby as having "suffered a neck injury in addition to a concussion." The injury was "fully healed," the team said."
Crosby joins Despres and Staal on ice
January 31
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"Sidney Crosby skated with a couple of injured teammates Monday afternoon at Consol Energy Center. When he's on the ice there in a game might hinge on the findings of what coach Dan Bylsma described as an "independent physician" who is evaluating Crosby's medical situation, including a newly discovered neck injury. Bylsma said that, as of Monday evening, the team had not received that report and that "until that time, there won't be an update on his condition""
Pens' Crosby takes the ice with injured Staal, Despres
January 30
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"Penguins center Sidney Crosby has joined center Jordan Staal and defenseman Simon Despres, both of whom are on injured reserve because of knee injuries, on the ice with conditioning coach Mike Kadar at Consol Energy Center. There still is no word on the findings of follow-up examinations Crosby was to have undergone on his neck. A team official said today the Penguins had not been given a timetable for when those results will be given to the team."
How do you miss a broken neck?
January 30
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 columnist Dejan Kovacevic
"One can choose to study the Sidney Crosby injury saga through the maddening prism of its particulars. One could dissect every detail of every visit to every doctor to what now might be every state in our union, and that's to say nothing of possible paddle-boat excursions to see medicine men in the jungles of Brazil and Burundi. Just wait till those hit the Canadian tabloids. But, honestly, I'm as weary of all the minutiae as most Pittsburghers. It's becoming increasingly difficult to make sense of the big-picture perspective."
Crosby exam results might come today
January 30
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"The NHL All-Star Game played out in normal fashion Sunday at Scotiabank Place. A night earlier, health news about Sidney Crosby fairly well upstaged the skills challenge. On the day of the main event, though, there was no update about Crosby, the Penguins center and captain who for most of the past 13 months has been dealing with a concussion, symptoms associated with concussions and now news of a neck injury from some point that was discovered last week, an undetermined time after it apparently healed. No one from the club addressed Crosby's status Sunday."
NHL's problem with concussions goes far beyond Crosby
January 29
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"Hockey purists have taken to inventing reasons not to watch the NHL All-Star Game, yet there is a curious reason to pay attention to the exhibition today at Scotiabank Place. "There is not hitting in a game like this," said Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Dion Phaneuf. That does not guarantee the players won't sustain an injury, specifically a concussion, but it's the closest the NHL can come to ensuring player safety. There certainly was no guarantee in the season's first half. Seventy-two players missed at least one game because of a concussion or concussion-like symptoms. That's an average of 2.4 players for each of the NHL's 30 clubs, which have 23-man rosters. The problem has grown"
Crosby has neck injury
January 29
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"Penguins center and captain Sidney Crosby was diagnosed with a neck injury in the past several days while seeing a specialist in California. That was in addition to his concussion problems. It seems this is not a career-threatening situation, and there are indications he could play again this season or in the playoffs if his concussion symptoms are resolved. Crosby, however, is seeking the opinion of one or more additional specialists, who will review recent test findings related to his neck and make recommendations. That could happen in the next two or three days. "The good news is that Sidney is safe, doing well," Crosby's agent, Pat Brisson, said Saturday night at Scotiabank Place after"
Crosby resumes skating in LA
January 28
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"The hockey world is focused on Canada's capital city for All-Star Game festivities, but Penguins fans can also turn their attention to Los Angeles. That is where center Sidney Crosby has resumed skating as he pursues a second comeback this season from concussion-related symptoms. Crosby is conducting on-ice workouts -- the specifics of which are not known -- at a Los Angeles-area rink, the Penguins confirmed Thursday. Though not diagnosed with a second concussion, Crosby has not played since Dec. 5 because of concussion-like symptoms that include balance issues. The Penguins said Sunday that Crosby had traveled to California for treatment under Dr. Robert S. Bray, a neurological spine"
Crosby in California to see spine specialist
January 23
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"Sidney Crosby's rehabilitation from concussion symptoms has headed west. The Penguins star is in California receiving treatment from Dr. Robert S. Bray, a neurological spine specialist. He spent most of last week in Atlanta with Ted Carrick, a chiropractor who aided his recovery from a concussion last summer. "I think this is a good thing," Penguins general manager Ray Shero said Saturday. "He's just going for more therapy. He's doing everything he can to get back to play." Shero said Crosby had a positive week with Carrick. Crosby has said his current problems are related to motion and balance issues while skating."
Crosby in California to see spine specialist
January 22
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"Sidney Crosby's rehabilitation from concussion symptoms has headed west. The Penguins star is in California receiving treatment from Dr. Robert S. Bray, a neurological spine specialist. He spent most of last week in Atlanta with Ted Carrick, a chiropractor who aided his recovery from a concussion last summer. "I think this is a good thing," Penguins general manager Ray Shero said Saturday. "He's just going for more therapy. He's doing everything he can to get back to play." Shero said Crosby had a positive week with Carrick. Crosby has said his current problems are related to motion and balance issues while skating. Shero said Crosby likely will be with Bray for a few days. The only person"
Retirement not part of Crosby's agenda
January 22
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"Sidney Crosby has seen a lot of concussion specialists lately. Likely has heard something a bit different from each of them. But what Crosby has not been told by any, general manager Ray Shero said Saturday, is that he should consider sitting out the rest of this season, let alone walking away from the game for good. Crosby is in California, where he is being tested and treated by Dr. Robert S. Bray, a neurological spine specialist, after spending most of last week in Atlanta with Ted Carrick, a specialist in chiropractic neurology. He is expected to undergo tests on his neck and its support structure and to receive soft-tissue treatments from Bray, the founding director and CEO of the"
Penguins veteran Adams denies there was captaincy meeting
January 18
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"Right winger Craig Adams, one of the Penguins' veterans, denied a Tribune-Review report Friday that players recently discussed a temporary captaincy with Sidney Crosby out of the lineup. "Ask every person in this room right now, point-blank, and they'll deny it," Adams said Tuesday in the team's locker room at Consol Energy Center. "Knowing the people in this room, I don't think that could happen here. And for it to be a topic of conversation, for some of our fans to think it did happen, that's pretty sad." General manager Ray Shero also denied that there was a meeting, based on his discussions with players. The Tribune-Review stands by the original report."
Penguins captain Crosby will meet with chiropracter again
January 17
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"Sidney Crosby watched the Penguins win two straight games and then stayed in Florida to visit Ted Carrick, the chiropractor who he believes was influential in his return from a concussion last year. The Penguins and Crosby hope Carrick can work his magic again. Crosby, who is suffering from balance and motion problems after dealing with concussion-like symptoms for the past six weeks, will remain in Florida for most of this week to work with Carrick. "I honestly think this is good news," Penguins general manager Ray Shero said Monday night. "Sid has really responded to him.""
Sidney Crosby visits concussion specialist in Atlanta
January 17
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"Penguins center and captain Sidney Crosby left the team to see concussion specialist Ted Carrick in Atlanta. Top defenseman Kris Letang was medically cleared to play after a concussion and will return to the lineup soon. From general manager Ray Shero's perspective, those are equally welcome developments. Shero on Monday called Crosby's time with Carrick "a good thing." Crosby, who said Friday that he is still experiencing some trouble with motion and balance, was helped in August by Carrick, considered the pioneer of chiropractic neurology."
Crosby practices, but no return is imminent
January 15
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"Penguins center Sidney Crosby skated for a second consecutive day -- this time in an organized practice. Three reasons contributed to Crosby's decision to practice Saturday at the Tampa Bay Lightning practice facility: • Crosby felt fine following a 30-minute skate Friday in Sunrise, Fla. • The Penguins only had access to ice in Tampa for a short time, leaving Crosby no time to skate individually before or after practice. • Penguins coach Dan Bylsma already had determined yesterday's practice wouldn't be physically demanding. "It was noncontact out there," Bylsma said, "so it wasn't any different (for Crosby) than yesterday.""
Crosby answers critics and skates
January 14
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"Sidney Crosby smiled. He wiped sweat from his face. He spoke to a phalanx of cameras and microphones. Most important, he skated Friday at BankAtlantic Center. The occasion was his first time back on the ice since he had a recurrence of concussion symptoms in early December and his first interview in a month. There are still some things that concern the Penguins captain and face of the NHL. Among them are a lingering problem handling motion, his disappointment in having to go through this recovery process again and his aversion to being a distraction for the club. Much lower on his list is the social media swirl of vitriol being aimed at him. After about 25 minutes skating and shooting"
Crosby gets through skate unscathed
January 14
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"Penguins center Sidney Crosby has learned how to handle concussion-like symptoms when they arise. Getting them to disappear has been the problem. Speaking publicly for the first time in about a month, Crosby said Friday he continues to experience symptoms -- namely occasional headaches and dizziness from "motion stuff" -- but felt well enough to resume skating. He joined teammates briefly at the end of yesterday's morning skate at BankAtlantic Center before skating by himself for about 30 minutes. "Symptoms are a lot better," Crosby said, "but I wouldn't say I'm symptom-free. I'm allowed to lightly exert." Crosby got through the workout without discomfort, though he did not say when he"
Penguins' Crosby skates but symptoms persist
January 13
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"Penguins center and captain Sidney Crosby is still having concussion symptoms, including headaches and trouble with motion, but said he felt good after working out on the ice today at BankAtlantic Center. "Seems to be a lot better. I wouldn't say symptom-free, but allowed to lightly exert and that's positive," said Crosby, who skated and shot pucks with conditioning coach Mike Kadar for about 25 minutes. "When you're sitting around for a bit, it's nice [to skate]. The symptoms have been better. It's nice to get that step, out there on the ice." Crosby hasn't played since Dec. 5 and had not spoken publicly since Dec. 12. There is no timetable for him to return. He first must get medical"
Crosby deserves better
January 13
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 columnist Dejan Kovacevic
"Want the truth about Sidney Crosby? OK, you'll have it. Let's start with three critical things you should know about the Penguins' captain, based upon conversations I've had the past few days: 1. He isn't fine. Not yet, anyway. He's still experiencing trouble with balance, and he isn't sure why. He doesn't even know if it's related to a concussion. More than anything, he's exasperated by a lack of answers. 2. He desperately wants to play. It's preposterous to even type such a thing, but sadly -- and stupidly -- there are people accusing Crosby of skipping out on playing, both in the public and in the Penguins' locker room. Ray Shero actually felt the need to address it Thursday, saying,"
Penguins GM Shero insists that return of Crosby, Letang worth the wait
January 13
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"While the Penguins got a day off Thursday in south Florida, general manager Ray Shero, who is not on this trip, kept busy talking about his slumping team and injured star center Sidney Crosby. The message was clear -- reason trumps panic. Shero ditched a notion that has gained popularity among some fans on social media that calls for him to shelve Crosby and perhaps injured defenseman Kris Letang for the rest of the season and use the millions of dollars in resulting salary-cap space to make a big trade or two. "I have to have it in my mind about what we might have coming back," Shero said. "Those guys are worth waiting for.""
Crosby to rejoin team on trip
January 12
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"Penguins center Sidney Crosby is about to get back on the ice. Coach Dan Bylsma said Crosby, who has not played since Dec. 5 because of what the team calls "concussion-like" symptoms, will accompany the Penguins on their current road trip, which includes weekend stops in Florida and Tampa, and will skate before they return home. There is no timetable for his return to the lineup. While Bylsma did not specify that Crosby will skate on his own, as opposed to doing it in a team workout, a Penguins spokesman said that likely is how he will proceed. Bylsma added that Crosby "at some point in time, in the near future" will discuss his situation with reporters."
Penguins captain Crosby will skate this weekend
January 12
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"Penguins center Sidney Crosby has joined the team on its three-game road trip and is expected to skate this weekend in Florida. Coach Dan Bylsma said Wednesday that Crosby will participate in on-ice workouts. "He also will, at some point in time, address the media," Bylsma said. "That will happen in the next few days." Crosby joined the Penguins in Washington. He has not spoken with the media since Dec. 12, when he acknowledged he was having concussion-like symptoms."
Capitals vs. Penguins: A rivalry with a big missing piece in Sidney Crosby
January 11
Washington Post
 
"Not long ago, Ovi vs. Sid was appointment viewing for fans and the rivalry the NHL used to market its game to the masses. But when the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins meet Wednesday at Verizon Center, anticipation will be low, relatively speaking. It'll have more juice than, say, New Jersey at Edmonton, sure. But the feud no longer has the tension it once did, not with Sidney Crosby sidelined indefinitely with a concussion and Alex Ovechkin struggling to regain his MVP form."
Depleted Pens' fate could hinge on the status of captain Crosby
January 9
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"The injury-ravaged Penguins were blindsided by more crippling news Sunday: Right wing James Neal is out indefinitely with a broken foot, center Jordan Staal will miss four to six weeks with a torn knee ligament, and right wing Craig Adams possibly sustained a significant knee injury. "This is unbelievable," defenseman Matt Niskanen said. But it's reality. Already without stars Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang, the Penguins appear to be in grave danger of missing the postseason for the first time since 2006. Crosby hasn't addressed the media in four weeks, and Letang hasn't played since sustaining a concussion Nov. 26. There is no indication either's return is imminent. The Penguins are one"
Crosby season over?
January 6
Sportsnet.ca
 columnist Nick Kypreos
"Sidney Crosby's season is over. This, of course, is not official but is my opinion based on two factors – his long-term health and the potential of a new contract. As I've stated many times on Hockey Central, Crosby's secondary concussion is far and away more concerning than the original one. This was not a discussion we were supposed to have this early after his return; at least not according to Crosby's medical team, which features some of the best concussion doctors in the world. On Sept. 7, 2011, doctors explained that waiting nearly a year was necessary to get the "Ferrari" in a position to avoid any secondary concussions."
Crosby handling concussion layoff in stride
December 30
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"Sidney Crosby 's situation could be discouraging for anyone. He's back to sitting out practices and games, back to dealing with concussion symptoms. According to others with the Penguins, though, their captain and best player is keeping his spirits up. "Sid knows how to handle a lot," winger Tyler Kennedy said. "He's handling it great. I don't know too many guys who could handle it the way he's doing it. He's showing leadership that way, too. "Most guys would break. But he's staying positive, which is good to see.""
Penguins' Crosby expands treatment team
December 29
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"More than three weeks after his last game, Penguins star Sidney Crosby continues to experience concussion-like symptoms and has broadened his treatment team to include the Steelers' team neurosurgeon. Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said Wednesday that Crosby is only able to exercise lightly because of headaches. General manager Ray Shero reiterated that Crosby won't play until his symptoms are gone. Crosby hasn't played since Dec. 5."
Crosby likely to be out for an extended period
December 29
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"It doesn't appear as if Penguins center and captain Sidney Crosby will return to the lineup anytime soon. Crosby continues to do light workouts and still is experiencing some concussion symptoms, coach Dan Bylsma said Wednesday. It was the first update on the team's top player since Crosby spoke publicly Dec. 12, and it means he has not made much if any progress in the interim. He said then that he had some headaches and other symptoms but had passed an ImPACT neurocognitive exam and was optimistic he would not be out for as long as he initially was with the injury."
Crosby still experiencing concussion symptoms
December 28
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"Penguins center and captain Sidney Crosby continues to do light workouts and still is experiencing concussion symptoms, coach Dan Bylsma said today. It was the first update on the team's top player since Crosby spoke publicly Dec. 12, saying he had some headaches and other symptoms but had passed an ImPACT neurocognitive test and was optimistic he would not be out for as long as he initially was with the injury. He was diagnosed with a concussion Jan. 6 and did not play for more than 10 months. He returned to great fanfare Nov. 21 and played eight games before being pulled back out of the lineup. He has not played since Dec. 5 and has not resumed skating. It's not known whether Crosby is"
Concern is growing for Crosby's well-being
December 27
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"The more time that elapses without an update on Sidney Crosby's health — it's at 15 days and counting — the more some of his teammates are beginning to worry. Crosby hasn't played since Dec. 5, hasn't practiced since Dec. 7 and hasn't spoken with the media since Dec. 12. When Crosby last spoke publicly, he said that concussion symptoms surfaced following the game Dec. 5 against the Bruins. Although Crosby has been visible at Consol Energy Center, the fact that he hasn't appeared on the ice in almost three weeks suggests it might be awhile until the face of hockey is back in action. "I try not to get too caught up in it," defenseman Matt Niskanen said. "I don't ask any questions. The team,"
Crosby named Youth Olympics Games Ambassador
December 21
NHL.com
 
"Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby was named a Youth Olympic Games Ambassador on Wednesday for the first edition of the Winter Youth Olympic Games scheduled next month in Innsbruck, Austria. Crosby will join figure skater Yuna Kim (South Korea), Alpine skiers Lindsey Vonn (USA) and Benjamin Raich (Austria), and freestyle skier Kevin Rolland (France) as ambassadors for the upcoming Games, which take place Jan. 13-22, 2012. Crosby, 24, who scored the gold medal-winning goal for his country at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, is currently third in voting among forwards for the 2012 Tim Horton's NHL All-Star Game despite the fact he has played in just eight games this season"
Shero: Crosby remains priority for Penguins
December 18
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"Sidney Crosby's yearlong bout with a concussion will not influence next summer's contract talks, Penguins general manager Ray Shero told the Tribune-Review, and the team remains committed to a long-term extension with the star center. "The only thing on my mind is signing Sidney Crosby," Shero said. "We want him to be a Penguin for life. That's the goal. Nothing has changed." Crosby's health has changed, of course. He remains out of the lineup with headaches, possibly indicating the concussion he sustained in January remains on some level, though an ImPACT test after the Dec. 5 game against the Boston Bruins did not indicate another concussion. He has played just eight games since Jan. 5."
On the Penguins: A part of Sid's legacy
December 18
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"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"
Crosby's concussion issues symptom of bigger NHL problem
December 13
Ottawa Citizen
 columnist Wayne Scanlan
"When Sidney Crosby suffers concussion symptoms, the entire National Hockey League gets a headache. It would be bad enough if Crosby was the only elite player currently sidelined with a concussion, or "concussion-like symptoms" as teams sometimes like to frame these injuries — semantics that don't really soften the blow to the player, his team or the league. Sadly, Crosby has plenty of company in the proverbial NHL Quiet Room. So much for the optimistic NHL report in mid-November that concussions were down by half compared to a year ago, while players presumably adjusted to the league's tougher stance on enforcement and suspensions where head hits were concerned."
Crosby is worth the wait
December 13
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 columnist Ron Cook
"Public sentiment appears to be turning against Penguins star Sidney Crosby, slowly but surely. Those who are preaching patience as he battles concussion-like symptoms for a second time this year remain the overwhelming majority. But more and more people are wondering if Crosby will be the same player again, which is to say the best in the world. They're wondering if he will survive for the long haul in the brutally physical NHL game. They are comparing him to Eric Lindros and Pat LaFontaine, players who were forced to retire prematurely because of concussions. Some are more extreme. A few -- I'll call them the lunatic fringe -- are saying the Penguins should look into trading him before"
Crosby's concussion recovery is back to square one
December 13
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"Overshadowed by the ovations and relief when Sidney Crosby returned to the Penguins lineup Nov. 21 was a touch of the cringe factor. There was a thought that the center, team captain and face of the National Hockey League was taking a risk by playing, even though it had been nearly 11 months since he was diagnosed with a concussion and he had gone through several painstaking steps to be cleared medically. Posts on social media urged the Penguins to shut down Mr. Crosby for the full season. Talk show callers wondered if a leveling hit might end his career. Not Mr. Crosby. Even Monday, as he sat at his locker stall at Consol Energy Center explaining that concussion-like symptoms have"
Primeau: Pens' Crosby showing true courage
December 13
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"A minority of NHL fans are using social media outlets to question Penguins star Sidney Crosby's toughness because of his refusal to play with concussion symptoms. Former NHL standout Keith Primeau, whose career was ended prematurely by concussions, is coming to Crosby's defense and believes his behavior is heroic. "Sidney Crosby is an ambassador for people who have brain injuries and who have endured head trauma," Primeau told the Tribune-Review late Monday. "People are looking up to his courage as we speak.""
Headaches put Crosby back on sidelines
December 13
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"Sidney Crosby is the face of the National Hockey League, but once again, his head has become the issue. Crosby, the Penguins' star center who missed 11 months because of a concussion, is out indefinitely because of recurring symptoms, the team announced on Monday. Headaches resurfaced since he took an elbow to the head from the Boston Bruins David Krejci on Dec. 5, Crosby said at his locker room stall at Consol Energy Center. "The next day, after the game, I didn't feel right," he said. However, a subsequent medical test showed no serious injury, he added."