King Crosby Speaks

Sidney Crosby spoke to the media today, addressing his ongoing concussion issues and talking about when/if he may return to the ice this season:

“I’m getting better. It’s just slow,” Crosby said. “That’s the tough part, the progression and everything is improving. It’s just at a slower rate than I want it to be. It’s out of my control. You just hope with time, the quicker the better.

“There’s no timetable whatsoever. It’s impossible to gauge or put a number of days or a timetable (on it). There’s nothing you can do but give yourself a chance to heal. I hope that happens sooner rather than later.”

Crosby also addressed some speculation that he may not return to the team this season at all. And while there is no way of knowing for sure when he’ll return, Crosby is fully intent on suiting up this season.

“I’m expecting to play this year,” he said. “I’m sure there’s a 1,000 different things being said out there and (missing the rest of the season) is one of them. I expect to be playing.

In other Pens news, the team recalled forwards Ryan Craig, Nick Johnson, Brett Sterling, and Joe Vitale from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL, and they will be infused into the lineup thusly:

Pascal Dupuis - Jordan Staal - Tyler Kennedy
Mike Rupp - Maxime Talbot - Chris Conner
Brett Sterling - Dustin Jeffrey - Nick Johnson
Ryan Craig - Joe Vitale - Craig Adams

The Pens and LA Kings (29-22-2) face off tonight at the CEC, with a 7 p.m. start. Pittsburgh will be skating without forwards Arron Asham (undisclosed), Chris Kunitz (lower body), Evgeni Malkin (knee), Mike Comrie (hip), Sidney Crosby (concussion), Mark Letestu (knee) and defenseman Alex Grant (wrist).

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