NHL-Crosby still training despite more post-concussion symptoms
Sidney Crosby has had more of
the post-concussion symptoms that bothered him in the spring,
but the Pittsburgh Penguins said the center has not had to shut
down his conditioning program in his bid to come back.
Penguins general manager Ray Shero told reporters Monday
that symptoms occurred when Crosby stepped up his workouts ahead
of the opening of the National Hockey League team’s training
camp in mid-September.
Crosby, one of the NHL’s biggest drawing cards, has not
played since Jan. 5 when he absorbed his second shot to the head
in as many games. The Canadian, the league’s leading scorer at
the time, was bothered by headaches after the incidents and was
shut down for the season and playoffs.
“The good news is he continues to work out and has worked
out hard during the summertime,” Shero said in Pittsburgh,
according to the league’s official website (www.nhl.com).
“When he went back (to Nova Scotia), he has a progression
plan with his trainer, Andy O’Brien, which he’s gone through,
and we’ll see where he is during training camp.”
Shero would not speculate whether Crosby would be ready for
the start of camp or when he might be cleared for contact on the
ice. Crosby must be symptom-free before he can resume contact,
which is required before he can play in a game.
Playing without Crosby, Pittsburgh was knocked out by Tampa
Bay in the first round of the playoffs.
Drafted first overall by Pittsburgh in the 2005 NHL Entry
Draft, the 24-year-old Crosby has lived up to the hype and his
nickname of “Sir Sidney” as NHL royalty.
He helped lead Pittsburgh to a Stanley Cup triumph in 2009
for their first title in 17 years and his overtime goal won the
gold medal for Canada at last year’s Vancouver Olympics.
Since joining the Penguins for the 2005-06 season Crosby has
been a points-producing machine and an NHL Most Valuable Player
winner, recording 215 goals and 357 assists for 572 points in
412 regular season games.