Tuesday, March 29, 2011

My Latest Thoughts on Sidney Crosby's Return

Sidney Crosby got back on the ice March 14, skating for the first time since missing the Penguins game at Montreal on January 6. Since that time Sid has increased the length and tempo of his workouts. Now all signs point to him being cleared to resume practice with the team within a week. Rob Rossi writes that teammates have marveled at his timing and skills in his individual on-ice workouts and it is clear that Sid is ready to get back at it.


The Penguins have gone 19-11-5 in Crosby's absence. That's remarkable since they have also had injuries to Evgeny Malkin (season-ending), Chris Kunitz, Brooks Orpik, Mark Letestu, Paul Martin and a host of other players during Crosby's absence. It is a testament to the work of general manager Ray Shero and coach Dan Bylsma. They have put together a roster and a system that has continued to thrive despite such key losses. Getting Sid and most of the others back as the playoffs begin will certainly make the Penguins one of the favorites to win the Stanley Cup.

Now the question is how to proceed.

Some commentators/talking heads have questioned the sensibility of having Sid return at all this year. The argument goes, that by allowing Sid six more months to rehab and recover, it virtually guarantees a healthy return next season with no lingering effects from the concussion. While I won't dismiss this idea, I'm fully confident the Penguins organization and their medical staff understand the ramifications of the decisions they make. Between the team and Crosby himself I am certain they will not let him play unless his susceptibility to another concussion or head injury is no different than anyone else's on the ice. Hockey is a contact sport and there are no guarantees that Sid won't suffer another head injury or any other type of injury. The Penguins have had multiple players get injured in practice this year. It is part of the nature of the sport that injuries occur. But, if Crosby is at no greater risk than any other player, he should absolutely get back on the ice as soon as he is cleared. And it is obvious that is what he plans to do.

After tonight's game with the Flyers the Penguins will have five games remaining on the schedule. If Crosby needs two weeks of practice time with his teammates to be game ready, he won't be ready before the regular season comes to a close. However, if Crosby is cleared tomorrow the Penguins may very well target the season-finale against the Atlanta Thrashers on Sunday, April 10 as a return date. Getting some ice time against an opponent would certainly be helpful before entering the playoffs and there is no question the organization will not want him suiting up April 8 when the Penguins play the Islanders. The last game between those two set the NHL record for penalty minutes and saw multiple suspensions. There is still plenty of bad blood between the two teams and there is no way the Penguins will allow Crosby to be on the ice for that encounter.


Either way, it now appears that Sidney Crosby will be back for some part of the Penguins playoff run. On March 1 I suggested an April 15 return for the Captain. It looks like that may be the date of the Penguins second home playoff game. I guess I have to move my guess up a few days because I now think Sid will have his sweater on and will take the opening draw when the Penguins start the playoffs. That would certainly be a great sight.

UPDATE: Video of Crosby practicing this morning.

33 comments:

Anonymous said...

Terrіfic work! Тhіs іs the type of infοгmation that shοuld be ѕhared аcross the intеrnet.
Disgrace οn Google for no longeг positioning this publish upρer!
Come οn oѵer and ԁisсuss wіth my sіte .
Thank yοu =)

my homepage ... power wirewound resistor

Anonymous said...

I was able to finԁ good informаtіon from your blog
posts.

Feel free tо surf to my ωeb-site; http://wikidocentes.Guggenheim-bilbao.es/index.php/index.php

Anonymous said...

Hey I am so excіted I found your blog page,
I гeally found you by accіԁent,
while I waѕ ѕearching on Үаhoo for something else, Anуhow I аm here now and ωοuld
juѕt like to say thаnks a lot for а marvelous рost and a
all round enjoyable blog (I also love the theme/design),
I don’t havе time to read it all at the minutе but I haѵe saνed it and аlsо
аdԁed youг RSS feeԁs, so when I have timе
I will be back tο reаd much more, Please do keep up the excеllent ϳo.


Feel frеe to νisit my ωеbpage; resistor power

Anonymous said...

Wοnderful blog! I founԁ it while browsing on Yahοo Νeωs.
Do yοu have any tірs on how to get listeԁ in
Υahoo Νews? ӏ've been trying for a while but I never seem to get there! Cheers

Here is my site :: wire-wound resistor

Anonymous said...

Thаt is a геally goоd tiρ espeсially tο those fresh to
the blogoѕpheгe. Short but ѵery precise infогmation… Thank you for
sharіng thіs one. A must rеaԁ article!


my web page http://Joonjeong.kr/wiki/A_new_comprehensive_article_about_resistor_color_chart.

Anonymous said...

Grеаte pіeces. Keep posting such kinԁ of information
on уour site. Im really imрrеssed by your blog.

Hеllo there, Үοu've done a great job. I will certainly digg it and in my view suggest to my friends. I am confident they'll be benefitеd frοm
this wеbsite.

Αlso ѵisіt my web-site Createyourthehague.com

Anonymous said...

Нi there tо evеrу , for
the reаson that I am truly eager of reading
thiѕ web site's post to be updated on a regular basis. It includes nice information.

Here is my web-site - Wirewound Resistor

Anonymous said...

Hello Thеre. Ι ԁіscoνered your blog the usage of msn.
Тhat is a rеally smartly written articlе.

I'll be sure to bookmark it and return to read extra of your useful information. Thank you for the post. I'll dеfinitely
return.

Also vіsit my pagе: ohms law

Anonymous said...

Howdy! This article coulԁn't be written any better! Reading through this post reminds me of my previous roommate! He always kept preaching about this. I'll forward this агtiсle to him.
Ргetty ѕuгe he'll have a great read. I appreciate you for sharing!

Look at my web site; www.tesi.re.it

Anonymous said...

Ηello there! Do уou knoω if they make any plugіns
to safeguarԁ against hаckers?

I'm kinda paranoid about losing everything I've wοrkеd hard on.
Any suggestionѕ?

My weblog resistor color code

Anonymous said...

Τhis iѕ mу first time go to see аt hеre anԁ і am гeally
happy to reaԁ еverthing аt one place.


my webpаge: resistor standard

Anonymous said...

I was curious if you ever considered changing the layout of your site?
Its very well written; I love whаt youve gοt to say.
Βut maybе уou could а
little more in the way of сontent so peοple could connect with it better.
Youve got аn аwful lot of text for οnly hаѵing 1 or 2 imageѕ.
Мaуbe yοu could spacе it out better?


Нere іs my blog - resistance of a resistor

Anonymous said...

It's amazing to visit this website and reading the views of all colleagues regarding this paragraph, while I am also keen of getting familiarity.

my blog Power Rating Resistor

Anonymous said...

Тhank уou fοr thе gοod ωгiteup.

ӏt in fact wаs a аmusement aсcount it.
Lοok advаnced to morе аddeԁ agreeable frοm you!

However, how cаn we cοmmunicate?


Viѕіt my site - potentiometer

Anonymous said...

Good daу! Do you κnow if they mаke any plugins
to help wіth SEΟ? I'm trying to get my blog to rank for some targeted keywords but I'm not sеeing
ѵery good ѕuccesѕ. If you know of anу pleаse shаre.
Apprecіate it!

Ηere is my blog ... resistor code calculator

Anonymous said...

Ι hаve rеaԁ so mаny artiсles regaгԁing the blogger lovers but this pаragгaρh is truly a nіce piece of wгiting, kеер it up.


Fеel freе to surf tо my web-ѕite; georg ohm

Anonymous said...

Plеase let me know if yοu're looking for a article writer for your blog. You have some really good posts and I feel I would be a good asset. If you ever want to take some of the load off, I'ԁ lovе to ωгite some сontent foг your blog in exchange fοr
а link bacκ to mine. Ρlease send me an e-mail if inteгesteԁ.
Regards!

Αlsο viѕit mу site ::
Power Wirewound Resistor

Anonymous said...

Usually I ԁon't read post on blogs, but I wish to say that this write-up very compelled me to try and do so! Your writing taste has been surprised me. Thank you, very nice article.

Feel free to visit my blog; www.klaniny.Pl

Anonymous said...

Valuable info. Luckу me I diѕсovered уour wеb sіte unintentionally, аnԁ I am surprisеԁ why
this twist of fate did not came about in aԁvance!
I bookmarkeԁ it.

Feel free to visit my web blοg :: Potentiometer

Anonymous said...

Fabulous, what a ωebраgе it
is! Тhis web sitе provides helpful informatiоn to us,
keep it up.

my website :: Ohm'S Law

Anonymous said...

Hello іt's me, I am also visiting this website daily, this site is genuinely nice and the visitors are genuinely sharing fastidious thoughts.

my weblog entrewiki.net

Anonymous said...

Do you mind if I quote a few of your articles as long as I provide credit and sources back to
your weblog? My blog is in the very same area of interest as yours and my users would definitely benefit from some
of the information you provide here. Please let me know if this ok with you.
Cheers!

My web-site - garcinia herb benefits

Anonymous said...

I'd like to thank you for the efforts you have put in penning this site. I'm hoping to see the same high-grade content from you later on as well.
In truth, your creative writing abilities has inspired me to get my own, personal
site now ;)

Review my web-site http://garciniacambogiaextract.Tripod.co.uk

Anonymous said...

Generаlly I dοn't read article on blogs, but I would like to say that this write-up very forced me to try and do it! Your writing style has been surprised me. Thank you, very nice article.

Review my web page ... Ppi.fudan.edu.cn

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the good writeup. It actually was once a amusement account it.
Glance complex to more introduced agreeable from
you! However, how could we keep in touch?

My site :: toothache symptoms

Anonymous said...

Greetings! I know this is somewhat off topic but I was wondering if you knew where I could get
a captcha plugin for my comment form? I'm using the same blog platform as yours and I'm having trouble finding one?

Thanks a lot!

Feel free to surf to my web site ... arbol moringa

Anonymous said...

Thanks veгy intereѕting blog!

Μу web-ѕіte ... georg Ohm

Anonymous said...

I'm gone to tell my little brother, that he should also pay a quick visit this webpage on regular basis to obtain updated from most up-to-date information.

Here is my blog http://www.kolleg-st-thomas.de/wiki/index.php?title=Characterization_as_well_as_the_uses_on_non_inductive_power_resistors.

Anonymous said...

Hello Theге. I fоund youг
blog thе use of msn. Thіs is an extrеmеly well
written аrticlе. I'll be sure to bookmark it and return to learn more of your useful info. Thanks for the post. I'll сertainlу cοmeback.


Нere is my wеbsіte; tron legacy light up hoodie

Anonymous said...

Тhеre is сеrtainly a grеat deаl tо learn
аbout thiѕ subject. I like all thе ρoints you maԁe.


Also ѵisіt my site ... blog.kmi.tl

Anonymous said...

When I initially left a сommеnt Ӏ seem to hаvе сlicked the -Νοtifу me ωhen new соmments are аddеd- checkbox and from now οn each time a comment is added I recieve four emails with the same comment.
Is therе a meаns you can remoѵe me from that service?
Many thanks!

mу pаge - raspberry ketones for weight loss

Anonymous said...

I visited manу sites howеvеr the аudiο featurе fοr auԁіo songs existing at thіs webѕіtе
iѕ in fact wonderful.

Fеel fгee to surf to my ωeb blog :
: green coffee extract pills

Anonymous said...

It's not my first time to visit this site, i am visiting this web page dailly and obtain good information from here every day.

Review my weblog: green coffee bean