The real Crosby return date?

[Czechline]

NHL press conference Thursday, 3 p.m., in Pittsburgh

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=597541

The National Hockey League has called a press conference for Thursday at 3 p.m. ET at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh in order to make a major announcement.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman will be in attendance along with Pittsburgh Penguins President David Morehouse, GM Ray Shero and Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl.

The press conference will be streamed live on NHL.com.

What are the chances this is the Crosby start date?... Starting tonight? Why would Bettman be there, it has an ominous feel like "Crosby set-back, shutting it down."

Let's hope good things... I could really use him for my team.

[Big Ev]

NHL press conference Thursday, 3 p.m., in Pittsburgh

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=597541



What are the chances this is the Crosby start date?... Starting tonight? Why would Bettman be there, it has an ominous feel like "Crosby set-back, shutting it down."

Let's hope good things... I could really use him for my team.

It's to announce that Pittsburgh is getting the 2012 NHL Draft. Nothing more.

[Czechline]

It's to announce that Pittsburgh is getting the 2012 NHL Draft. Nothing more.

That's right, I saw that in another article when I was trying to find out more about the presser, but didn't connect the dots. Thanks for the (bad) news Ev.

"Major announcement"... LAME!!! That explains Bettman too.

... maybe as an aside they'll say "oh yeah, and Crosby is playin vs. Islanders tonight"... one can dream I guess.

[marsid6687]

PG+ were estimating Crosby is another 2-3 weeks away. The Pens schedule hasn't allowed Crosby to be hit nearly enough in practices and game day skates to know how he'd react to game intensity hits. Be glad there hasn't been any setbacks since he's resumed taking contact and hope to see him back in game action sometime around mid-November.

[Stunaman]

We haven't heard anything for a bit and I think that PG article is old.

Just seeing any upate saying that Crosby has been taking it and dishing it, including a stick in the chin and laying out Letang.

I'm not going to hold my breath but next Thurs maybe? See story below...





Pens GM Shero: Sidney Crosby hitting at practices, may not wait for home return
PUBLISHED 36 minutes and 34 seconds ago
Staff report Sporting News
Text size A A A

Sidney Crosby is taking—and dishing out—contact at Penguins practices, Ray Shero said Thursday, and while Shero may want Crosby to to make his return at home, the GM has an inkling that his star won't be interested in waiting any longer than necessary.

"He’s taken a stick in the chin, he ran into Kris Letang and unfortunately No. 58 took the worst of it," Shero told Sportsnet 590's Hockeycentral at Noon. "He’s had tough battles down low in a lot of our practices.”
When Sidney Crosby is ready to play, he may not be interested in waiting any longer. (AP Photo)

Shero added that Crosby, still working his way back after suffering a concussion in January, wouldn't return on Saturday against Toronto, and that though he'd like Crosby to play his first post-injury game in Pittsburgh, that might not be in the cards.

"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?’,” Shero said.

After a three-game road trip, Pittsburgh returns home on Friday, Nov. 11 for a game against the Dallas Stars.

The Penguins play their league-high 12th game on Thursday night, and the schedule has cut back on hitting in practices. Earlier this month, Crosby said he'd do what it took to initiate contact. Doctors declared Crosby ready for full practices on Oct. 13.

"I’ll have to provoke them a bit to hit me so we’ll what happens, but it’ll be nice to get into those situations," Crosby said.

After Thursday, Pittsburgh's next three games are on the road: Oct. 19 at Toronto, Nov. 3 at San Jose, Nov. 5 at Los Angeles. Then, they have a six-day break—presumably filled with the type of contact Crosby is seeking out—and head home for the Dallas game.

That lull will be good for the whole roster, coach Dan Bylsma said.

"I think you'll see some days for the whole team to rest, but that time will also allow us to have some type of practices that are different than even what we go through (on a normal practice day)," Bylsma told reporters on Thursday. "That'll be balanced with some rest days as well. But I think our team—not just Sidney—knows we need some work and some work days."

Read more: http://aol.sportingnews.com/nhl/stor...#ixzz1c0ezrhEF

[dyzfunctioned]

Update: Crosby says 100% he won't return during this road trip.

[Czechline]

Update: Crosby says 100% he won't return during this road trip.

That sucks; looks like the 11th remains the best case.

[150Swiftly]

Crosby won't know how he responds to actual NHL hitting until he returns to game action. Nov. 11 is still the most popular return date for him, but a recent rumor suggests he might not return until early January. Stay tuned.
(Rotowire.com)

Hopefully an unfounded rumor, does anyone know anything more?

[dyzfunctioned]

I'm screwed if he doesn't return till january haha.

[Stunaman]

Hopefully an unfounded rumor, does anyone know anything more?

Gimme a fricken break. All these stories about how practice can't replace a live game situation. Him and bump hit a few times in practice and if he has no symptoms, dress him for a game. Or manufacture a practice scenario and expose him to some contact. Then if he's fine, move him along the recovery process. I feel like the Pens are dilly dallying on this. I'm SICK of hearing about this and I'm desperately in need of Crosby's production on my team. Fricken A.

[echoboomer]

I feel like the Pens are dilly dallying on this. I'm SICK of hearing about this and I'm desperately in need of Crosby's production on my team. Fricken A.

Crosby / the Pens have bigger things to worry about than your fantasy roster. Plus, I'm sure you'd rather he come back and stay back rather than come back early and retire early.

[2 Minutes For Bearding]

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/...rosby-nhl.html

according to the article he didnt say hes back friday, but he didnt say he wasnt.

sounds like the most hopefull news yet..

[pianoman]

Pens just dealt Letestu to Columbus and sent Jeffery and MacIntyre to the AHL for conditioning. That leaves 11 available forwards for Friday's game...

Well, 12 if you activate somebody from IR!
*fingers crossed*

[Stunaman]

anybody have access to the story from Pittsburgh Post Gazette called 'Crosby taking hits'? would be nice to see the update on his progress...

[mounD]

anybody have access to the story from Pittsburgh Post Gazette called 'Crosby taking hits'? would be nice to see the update on his progress...

Stupid PG+... You have to pay for a membership to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette + services. Pretty much sucks, but I'll try to find someone who has access to the article. If I do, I will redirect a link to Dobber forums for sure...