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Sidney Crosby put on injured reserve… again

Sidney Crosby, Tim Thomas

Pittsburgh Penguins’ Sidney Crosby (87) can’t get his stick on a rebounding puck in front of Boston Bruins goalie Tim Thomas in the first period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Monday, Dec. 5, 2011. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

AP

We were told that Sidney Crosby was only supposed to miss a couple of games because the player and the team wanted to err on the side of caution. First it was a two-game mini road trip that he was supposed to miss. Then it was announced by the Penguins that he’d be out “indefinitely,” but he was still on their roster to return as soon as he felt like he like he was ready to go. Then there was today’s news.

The Pittsburgh Penguins announced today that Sidney Crosby has been retroactively placed on injured reserve as he tries to recover from his concussion-like symptoms. The move (along with Robert Bortuzzo heading to IR) allowed the team to clear up a couple of roster spots so they could recall Jason Williams and Carl Sneep from their AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre. Yet at this point, corresponding roster moves are the last thing on NHL fans minds.

Does this mean that he’s going to be out for an extended period of time? Not necessarily. The main reason that the Penguins would put Crosby on IR would be so it creates a roster spot for a forward that is able to play; Jason Williams for example. However, it makes one wonder if the team is preparing for a longer absence when they reach to the AHL affiliate for reinforcements.

Crosby had been playing well since initially coming back from the concussion he suffered in January. He managed to rack up 12 points in only eight games--including four points in his first game back against the New York Islanders on November 21.

At first, Crosby was just taking a few games off as a precautionary measure because he “didn’t feel right.” Now the team is bringing in someone to replace him on the roster while things get sorted. It’s a significant step.

The Pens superstar has already been scratched in four games since being sidelined. The strong Penguins have had a 1-3 record over the recent stretch, but they’ve been dealing with injuries to Kris Letang, Jordan Staal, and Zbynek Michalek among others; and now Paul Martin is out with a lower-body injury.

But far more important than any short-term success (or failure) for the Penguins is the long-term recovery for the face of the league. It’s hard to look at this most recent development as good news for anyone.