Despite no timeline for return, Crosby surrounded by optimism

by Matt Gajtka

The headlines, much like the one above this post, will focus on the uncertainty regarding Sidney Crosby’s return to NHL ice. But the overarching mood of Wednesday’s press conference at CONSOL Energy Center was undeniably positive.

Once the Penguins announced Crosby would address the media, speculation ranged from the prospect of a potential retirement announcement to a declaration that he’d be ready to go for the start of the upcoming season.

Eventually word got out that two concussion specialists, including Mickey Collins from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, would be joining Crosby on the podium. This fact tempered expectations for the gathering, on both the positive and negative sides of the spectrum.

The accepted inference that no “real” news would come from the press conference came to fruition, but despite the lack of black-and-white revelation, exploring the gray areas of Crosby’s gray matter made for an enlightening experience.

Refuting multiple questions (from Canadian media) about if he’d ever considered leaving the sport, Crosby also articulated his emotions during a protracted recovery from an early January concussion. While it had to be comforting for Penguins fans to hear Sid so optimistic about how far he’s come, perhaps the greatest light was projected by the two doctors that sandwiched Crosby and Pittsburgh general manager Ray Shero at the press table.

Georgia-based Dr. Ted Carrick joined Collins, who has treated Crosby since the start of this ordeal, in proclaiming with confidence that No. 87’s recovery has recently reached a breakthrough and will be complete soon. Carrick described in detail how his attempts to recalibrate Crosby’s brain following some summer setbacks have produced promising results.

Collins was especially ebullient about how Sid has essentially reached his baseline cognitive benchmarks in the past week. He was clear in asserting the next step toward Crosby’s return to the ice for game action is based on physical conditioning. If the brain can handle the increased blood flow of extreme exertion, contact will be reintroduced to the regimen.

Since there is still no timeline, tentative or otherwise, maybe the most newsworthy item of the day was Crosby’s statement that the NHL should follow Hockey Canada’s lead in establishing a “no tolerance” policy on head checking. Crosby had previously shied away from taking a stand on the polarizing issue, but it seems his recent experience has changed his mind, no pun intended.

And that may be the best thing to come from this matter. Yes, there was news of progress and optimism today in downtown Pittsburgh, but if Crosby’s publicized battle with brain injury can elicit change in the game, it may be the superstar’s greatest contribution to hockey.

It may not have been the legacy he had in mind as a youngster, but concussion awareness and prevention is shaping up to be the defining issue of this sporting era.