CRANBERRY TWP, PA (93.7 The Fan) – Sidney Crosby was back on the ice at practice Friday. What does that mean for his potential return?
“It was just another step,” said Pens head coach Dan Muse. “It’s a first step, now there are more conversations about what happens next.”
Crosby still has to miss four weeks since he was put on injured reserve. The clock started on February 25, but as Muse said it was progress.
“It was great seeing him out there, him and (defenseman) Jack (St. Ivany) obviously it’s good to going from being on your own to being with a group, even if it’s a smaller group in a non-contact, optional skate, it’s still another good step,” Muse said.
“It’s definitely a good feeling seeing him back on the ice, hopefully he will back with us playing games soon,” said forward Rickard Rakell, who has had to fill his position as a top-two center. “He’s our best player, obviously everybody wants him back, but wants him to be healthy too.”
“Obviously with injury, it’s always a very great feeling seeing someone come back like that and seeing them on the ice,” said goalie Stuart Skinner. “Very happy for him and for us, it was fun having him on the ice.”
A couple dozen of elementary school-age kids were among those who attended practice at the UPMC Lemieux facility Friday, and they chanted Crosby’s name and screamed for everything he did. I asked Avery Hayes about feeling that energy during practice.
“It’s so cool, I was one of those kids at one point.”