No timetable for Crosby’s return
PITTSBURGH (AP) 鈥� Sidney Crosby remains confident he鈥檒l play hockey again.
When remains a mystery.
The Pittsburgh Penguins star said Wednesday he鈥檚 continuing to recover from concussion-like symptoms that have sidelined him since last January, adding it鈥檚 鈥渓ikely鈥� he鈥檒l return to play this season.
Yet the 24-year-old former MVP remains adamant he won鈥檛 don his familiar No. 87 jersey until he鈥檚 back at full strength.
鈥淢aybe I can get by with 90 percent, maybe I couldn鈥檛 but I鈥檓 not going to roll the dice with that,鈥� he said.
Flanked by Pittsburgh general manager Ray Shero and the two doctors who have carefully monitored his progress after sustaining blows to the head in consecutive games nine months ago, Crosby shot down speculation he鈥檚 considering retirement.
While acknowledging there鈥檚 a 鈥渟light chance鈥� he may never play again, Crosby quickly added 鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 bet on that.鈥�
Guessing when arguably the game鈥檚 greatest player will consider himself at full speed is an equally risky proposition.
Dr. Michael Collins likened Crosby to a Ferrari. Sure, Crosby can go out and skate. He just can鈥檛 do the things he wants to do without experiencing a recurrence of the issues that have plagued him since January.
鈥淪id鈥檚 100 percent is different than anybody else鈥檚,鈥� Collins said.
Crosby鈥檚 symptoms have included 鈥渇ogginess鈥� that at times made it difficult for him to drive or watch television. He鈥檚 also endured painful migraines and likened the recovery process to a roller coaster. The good days far outnumber the bad ones, but the bad ones aren鈥檛 gone completely.
鈥淚鈥檓 lucky,鈥� Crosby said. 鈥淚 feel like I鈥檓 in pretty good shape and on the right end of this right now.鈥�
Doctors don鈥檛 anticipate the symptoms having any long-term effect on his day-to-day life, with Dr. Ted Carrick calling it 鈥淐hristmas for Sid Crosby and the people that care for him.鈥�
The true test of his hockey future won鈥檛 be determined until he gets hit for the first time in a real game. That will likely be months considering it鈥檚 still uncertain when he can begin practicing with his teammates.
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to introduce contact with Sid very carefully,鈥� Collins said, 鈥渁nd we鈥檙e not even close to that.鈥�
Crosby has spent the summer working out in Canada and undergoing various tests to his vestibular system, which is directly tied to a human鈥檚 movement and sense of balance. Crosby struggled with those tests shortly after his diagnosis and Carrick said only recently has Crosby shown progress when contact of any kind is involved.
Contact is going to be unavoidable whenever he comes back, though Crosby is hoping the NHL will take steps to crack down on head shots like the two that put his career in jeopardy.
The first came against the Washington Capitals in the Winter Classic on New Year鈥檚 Day, the second five days later against Tampa Bay. Crosby stressed he didn鈥檛 feel obligated to play against the Lightning, saying his symptoms didn鈥檛 really manifest until after he took the second hit. Crosby has refused to say whether the hits were dirty. He鈥檚 not sure it matters.
鈥淎 guy鈥檚 got to be responsible with his stick, why shouldn鈥檛 he be responsible with the rest of his body when he鈥檚 going to hit someone?鈥� Crosby said. 鈥淲hether it鈥檚 accidental or not accidental, you鈥檝e got to be responsible out there.鈥�
Crosby doesn鈥檛 believe outlawing head shots would adversely affect the game, even if there鈥檚 no guarantee he鈥檒l ever be the player he was before the injury. He鈥檚 as stunned at anyone by his slow and sometimes unsteady recovery. He thought he was making progress last month before his workouts were scaled back when symptoms reappeared after working at what he estimated as 鈥�80-90 percent.鈥�
鈥淲hen I really fatigue myself or really stress (my system),鈥� Crosby said, 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 really respond the right way.鈥�
What 鈥渢he right way鈥� will be going forward is unclear. Crosby has basically had to reacclimatize his body to working in space, trusting his right arm is where his mind is telling him it is, things like that. It鈥檚 a long road. The end is in sight, but it鈥檚 blurry.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not easy to go through that, there鈥檚 no guideline,鈥� Crosby said. 鈥淵ou鈥檝e got to listen to your body, listen to your doctors. At the same time, end of day I know how I feel.鈥�