Playing date uncertain for Penguins’ Crosby

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

Penguins center Sidney Crosby returned to the ice on Monday for the first time since missing 29 games with a concussion.

But if you’re looking for the Pittsburgh captain’s return date, it’s still anyone’s guess.

“I have no clue,” Crosby said. “I’m not thinking too far ahead as far as a time frame. I just want to get better.

“This is part of the way to do that. I’m just kind of taking that step and seeing how it goes,” Crosby said.

Crosby, who last played on Jan. 5 in an 8-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning, practiced in full gear for about 15 minutes at the Consol Energy Center. It was a light workout. He participated in a skating drill around some cones, and took a few shots on net, as well.

“I’ve had some good days here the last few, and I was able to get on a bike and exercise a bit. I didn’t have any symptoms doing that,” Crosby said. “I was given the opportunity to skate, the doctors said I could give it a try and see how I feel. So I did that today, and we’ll see moving forward how it goes.”

The Penguins, without Crosby and injured forward Evgeni Malkin (knee), have stayed afloat in the Eastern Conference playoff race. They have 88 points, and are just three behind first-place Philadelphia in the Atlantic Division. Pittsburgh plays at Ottawa on tonight.

All the while, Crosby will wait.

“Yeah, it’s frustrating, but at the same time when you go through all those things, I think the most important thing is that you just feel normal and you’re able to do things and work out — just do things that every day you’re usually able to do as a hockey player,” Crosby said.

Crosby’s return to the ice comes a week after a surprising radio report out of Toronto, in which host Bob McCown floated the idea that some family members were trying to convince him to retire. The notion was quickly debunked.

“This report is baseless,” Pat Brisson, Crosby’s agent, told Rogers Sportsnet. “At no time has retirement ever been discussed.”

Crosby’s father, Troy, also responded to the claims.

“We’re just trying to get him healthy again,” he told ESPN. “How ever long that takes, that’s how long it’s going to take.”