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Pittsburgh Penguins: Sidney Crosby out at least six weeks after surgery

By Paige Siewert

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 18: Sidney Crosby #87 and Evgeni Malkin #71 of the Pittsburgh Penguins talk before the faceoff of a power play against the Los Angeles Kings during the third period of a Penguins win at Staples Center on January 18, 201 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 18: Sidney Crosby #87 and Evgeni Malkin #71 of the Pittsburgh Penguins talk before the faceoff of a power play against the Los Angeles Kings during the third period of a Penguins win at Staples Center on January 18, 201 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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The Pittsburgh Penguins will be without their best player for at least the next six weeks after captain Sidney Crosby successfully underwent surgery.

The Pittsburgh Penguins announced on November 14th that Sidney Crosby‘s core muscle repair surgery was a success and the recovery is expected to be at least six weeks. Crosby has reportedly been dealing with a sports hernia since training camp and played most of October through the pain. Sports hernias can be common in hockey as the explosive movement required for the sport cause tears or injuries in the tendons in the lower abdomen.

The Penguins captain has had his share of injuries in the past including concussions, high ankle sprains, and a broken jaw in the 2012-13 season when he was hit in the face with a shot from Brooks Orpik.

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However, he always bounces back. Despite his season even this season, Crosby still leads the team in scoring with five goals and 12 assists for a total 17 points. He played in 17 games before shutting it down. With his surgery coming so early in the season, time is on his side for recovery.

While he will likely not be at 100% in time for the All-Star break, the Penguins would much rather have him back in time for playoffs. Crosby has been selected for the All-Star game eight times but has actually only played in half of them.

Around that time, jokes start to circulate on the internet about what type of excuse he will come up with to get out of it. This year, it seems he might have quite a concrete reason for not participating.

The 32-year-old forward has been in the NHL for 15 years now and has been in the conversation of being the best in the league for quite some time. He has the production and hardware to back it up as well.

Crosby has been awarded the Art Ross Trophy, Hart Memorial Trophy, Ted Lindsay Award, Conn Smythe Trophy and the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy a pair of times each. As well as a Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award and a Lester B. Pearson Trophy for a total of twelve awards. He has also had the chance to hoist the Stanley Cup three times as he led the Pittsburgh Penguins to ultimate victories in 2009, 2016, and 2017.

He is also widely remembered as Canada’s hero in 2010 when he scored the game-winning goal in the Vancouver Winter Olympics against the United States in overtime to bring home the Gold Medal for his home country.

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The Penguins captain will be missed among the lineup but will definitely be missed among the regular lineup. This will give an opportunity for other players to shine during his absence. The Pens currently sit at fourth in the Metropolitan Division with a 10-6-2 record and will face the New Jersey Devils on Friday night for their next Crosby-less match up.

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