Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Sidney Crosby’s responded well to contact, might debut in Pittsburgh

Sidney Crosby

FILE - This Sept. 17, 2011 file photo shows Pittsburgh Penguins’ Sidney Crosby listening to head coach Dan Bylsma during the NHL hockey team’s first workout of the new season at the Consol Energy Center, in Pittsburgh. Crosby’s return to the ice will have to wait a little longer.The team placed the former MVP on the injured list Monday, Oct. 3, 2011, meaning he’ll have to miss at least the first week of the season. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

AP

Pittsburgh Penguins GM Ray Shero was on Sportsnet’s Hockeycentral at Noon today to discuss -- what else? -- Sidney Crosby’s impending comeback.

Based on what Shero had to say, there’s major reason for optimism.

The interview was noteworthy for two particular things: One, Shero confirmed Crosby’s absorbed contact in practice with no ill-effects. Two, there’s an inkling the organization would like him to make his season debut at the Consol Energy Center.

Here are Shero’s quotes in full:

On Crosby receiving contact: “He’s had contact in practice. He’s taken a stick in the chin, he ran into Kris Letang and unfortunately No. 58 took the worst of it. He’s had tough battles down low in a lot of our practices.”

If Crosby will play Saturday in Toronto: “No. I’d like him to play at home first probably. Does it matter though, really? He’s going to want to play -- the thing with Sidney is he really wants to play and if I tell him ‘listen, we want to hold you out until the following Friday because we have a home game,’ he’s going to look at me like ‘huh?’”

Looking at the Penguins’ upcoming schedule, they play at home tonight against the Islanders before heading out on a three-game trip to Toronto (Oct. 29), San Jose (Nov. 3) and Los Angeles (Nov. 5). The Pens then get six days off before the “following Friday” game Shero alluded to -- a Nov. 11 home date against Dallas, which everyone is now probably circling on their calendars.