Grrrr....

The speculative news that sounded so positive initially today is now depressing (Way to go, Tribune-Review's Rob Rossi):

"As a manager, I have no expectation that he's coming back to play in the regular season. I don't believe that's going to happen. In terms of playing in the playoffs for us, that's still two or three weeks away. I don't want to take away any hope from (Crosby), but to return to game action for the Stanley Cup playoffs takes a certain level of fitness and game-(readiness), and he is certainly not close to that at this point."
--Shero's comments today

The question everyone is asking is why all the practice-video for public consumption if there is little likelihood #87 is coming back this year. I guess it's not too much of a stretch that the Pens want to ensure that season ticket holders purchased their playoff tickets and then renew for next year. (Clearly, he isn't retiring.)Yeah, that can sound absurd, considering the sellout streak and season-ticket waiting list. But Pens fans have also seen a pretty good player in his day, #66, take the ice in a less-than-packed Civic/Mellon Arena, even for some early-round playoff games.

Make no mistake, without #87, Pens are a Cup longshot at best as most experts agree. For all the recent hype about the team's resilience, let's face facts: Pens are 11-9-4 post #71's knee injury, not even a playoff-worthy pace, and of those 11 wins, seven came in a 4v4 OT or a SO, which doesn't exist come playoff time. One series win MAYBE without #87 if #29 can steal it; two series wins would be OVERACHIEVING; after that...

#87 worked out on the ice again today, at least 45 minutes with conditioning coach Mike Kadar, which is an upgrade. Less than two weeks ago, he spent just 15 minutes on the ice during his first post-concussion skate. He's also, according to HCDB, doing rigorous off-ice workouts.

Latest #87 Update

The P-G is reporting that before the rest of the team practiced at Southpointe today, #87 skated with conditioning coach Mike Kadar doing various shooting drills with cones.

For the past 10 days, he has been working out daily, either on or off the ice, and there has been no mention of post-concussion symptoms.

Yea!

#87 Skating Today at Consol!!!

YEA!!!

#29 on #87

In a Radio Canada interview of #29 that aired a few days ago, here is what he had to say (translated from French) about #87:

“We are, of course, hoping for Sidney’s return between now and the end of the season, but we are aware of the reality. He might not come back this season. On a hockey level, I would really like to gamble on Sidney, but I’m also thinking about the human side, and I want to see him be healthy first, before seeing him back on the ice….I see Sidney a lot at the arena in Pittsburgh. He comes around every day. I talk to him about all kinds of subjects, but I never want to talk to him about his head. My objective is pretty simple; I want to take his mind off things. He sees enough doctors and neurologists, he doesn’t need any questions from me about his concussion. Sidney tries to stay in a good mood, though it’s not easy. He misses hockey. He had never gone through a situation like this, where he can no longer put on skates and do what he loves most in the world, play hockey. It is also hard for him when we leave Pittsburgh to play games on the road. He can’t jump on the plane with the rest of us.”

Could No News Be Good News?

After the Pens finished practice today, the media asked HCDB whether #87 was still having concussion symptoms or whether there was still time for him to return during the regular season if he becomes (or is) asymptomatic.

HCDB simply replied that there was nothing new to report.

Why didn't he answer the question?! If #87 is still having symptoms, why not just confirm that and state there is no timetable for his return? End of that line of questioning.

By saying nothing leaves open the possibility that the Pens are trying to avoid a media circus because #87 has resumed training! (There have been unconfirmed reports that he has been renting out ice rinks and skating on his own.)

Maybe that assessment is wishing on a fallen star, but it's a plausible scenario.

Hockey “Experts” Chime In On #87’s Return

“I don’t want to pretend to know whether he’s coming back or not, but I know this. If he’s not on the ice in the next couple of weeks and starting to working out really hard, he’s not going to be anywhere near 100% come playoff time. Even for Sidney Crosby, as great as he is, if you take off two-and-a-half, three months doing very little, it’s going to take more than a week or two to get back in shape and back into the rhythm of the game. Whether he comes back or not I can’t say; if it’s much longer, I can say this, he’s going to have a tough time getting to the level that he wants to be at in the playoffs.”
—Mike Milbury, NBC analyst (and Ulf lover) interviewed by ProHockey Talk

###

In a live hockey chat today, the question was posed if #87 will come back by season’s end:

“50-50”

—Lyle Richardson (AKA, Spector) of Fox Sports

“I still think that if Sid gets back on the ice in the next two weeks, he’ll play.”
—Greg Wyshynski (AKA, Puck Daddy) of Yahoo! Sports

#87's Odds to Return (through Herb Brooks' eyes)

If Pens had these circumstances 10 times, the team might shut down #87 nine.
But not this year.
This year, he skates again!
This year, he scores again!
This year, he leads the Pens to the Stanley Cup because he can!
This year, and in the years to come, he is, and will be, the greatest hockey player in the world!
Sid was born to be a hockey player.
And he was meant to win the cup this year.
This is his time.
Destiny will let him take it!

Inch by Inch Boys!

19 Days....

If #87 is going to lead the Pens to the Stanley Cup this year, then he needs to start being more than a couch potato.

It seems reasonable to estimate that it will take him three weeks to get his lungs, abs, biceps, and legs into the kind of game shape expected for the world's best player.

Pens fans circle March 20th on your calendar for his return to practice.