Penguins’ Crosby practices, still bothered by symptoms

Associated Press

pittsburgh

Sidney Crosby joined his Pittsburgh Penguins teammates on the ice for the first time in more than two months on Friday, but the star center says he remains bothered by concussion-like symptoms.

The 24-year-old hasn’t played since the symptoms returned following a loss to Boston on Dec. 5 and still is not cleared for contact. He called the session with his teammates a matter of convenience because of a lack of ice availability at a suburban Pittsburgh rink.

Though he said he’s “getting better,” Crosby stressed he will remain sidelined while the symptoms linger.

“It’s pretty clear cut,” Crosby said. “There is no grey area. Either you’re symptom free and can move on to contact, or you’re not. I feel like I’m progressing, but not ready to take a hit yet.”

Crosby still has issues “daily,” but isn’t ready to rule out a return this season though the clock is ticking with less than two months remaining before the playoffs.

“I’m hoping to get back as soon as possible,” he said. “I’m not going to pretend I know when that is. I won’t say I’ll be ready in a month, or two weeks or a week. I wouldn’t be going through all of this if I didn’t want to play as soon as possible.

“That’s really all I’m worried about.”

The Penguins have recovered nicely from a six-game losing streak around New Year’s and head into a two-game trip through Philadelphia and Buffalo this weekend in fifth place in the crammed Eastern Conference standings. With the trade deadline looming, Crosby declined to say whether the team should defer some of his $8 million salary to create more flexibility in the trade market.

“That’ll be a decision that’s up to management,” Crosby said.

Crosby has spent the last two months searching for answers, including a visit to a spine specialist in late-January in which he was diagnosed with a soft-tissue neck injury and given an injection. The injury has symptoms that mimic a concussion, but three weeks after the treatment, Crosby remains uncertain of how he’s going to feel on a given day.

“You have days where you feel you’re getting better and the symptoms aren’t quite as bad. Other days they’re a little worse,” he said. “Everyone has different symptoms. That’s the tough thing about getting a gauge on it. It doesn’t always seem consistent.”