PITTSBURGH -- Sidney Crosby will not be with the Pittsburgh Penguins for the start of this season.
Wednesday's announcement by the team indicated that Hart Trophy winner and two-time Hart Trophy winner, will be back at least six weeks after having wrist surgery.
Ron Hextall, general manager, stated that Crosby has been suffering from the injury for many years. The team had exhausted every option before deciding on surgery as the best course.
Hextall stated, "We all wish we knew this a month ago or two months ago, Sid included." "That would have been great, but we're where we are."
The Penguins will begin training camp in the latter part of the month, and then open the season against Tampa Bay, the two-time Stanley Cup champions. Crosby's potential routine could be announced around Oct. 20, at the earliest.
Crosby, 34 years old, missed only one game in the COVID-19 shortened 2020-21 Season. He finished with 24 goals as well as 38 assists to lead the Penguins to their East Division title. In six of Pittsburgh's playoff losses to the New York Islanders, he had an assist and a goal.
Hextall stated that Crosby restrained the injury after the season and was weighing his options to determine if he could continue playing with the injury for another year.
Hextall stated, "At some point you ramp up the pace along the way." "This was the best way to proceed," Hextall said.
Crosby and Evgenimalkin, Crosby's longtime teammate, will be absent from the beginning of the season. Malkin was treated for right knee surgery in June. The team declined to give any details about Malkin's recovery other than to say that he will not be available for training camp.
Hextall declined information on Malkin's condition, but said the team would have a better idea when training camp begins. Hextall acknowledged that starting the year without the franchise cornerstones was "not ideal", but said the team wouldn't feel sorry.
Hextall stated that "we still need to find ways of winning games."
Over the summer, the Penguins were quiet in free agency. Hextall stated that he doesn't think Malkin or Crosby will be out for a prolonged period of time and suggested not looking to the open market for help.
