Pittsburgh, PA – Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby, who is still recovering from the effects of a concussion suffered in January, has been placed on injured reserve.
The 24-year-old stated on Saturday that he didn't expect to play when the Penguins begin their 2011-12 season on Thursday at Vancouver. That was confirmed when he was officially sent to IR on Monday -- which means the franchise icon will be out of action for at least seven days.
However, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported over the weekend that the Pens' captain is still likely to travel with the club during their season-opening three-game western Canadian road trip, which also includes dates in Calgary and Edmonton.
Pittsburgh returns on October 11 for its home opener against the Florida Panthers.
Crosby appeared in just 41 games last season and still led the Penguins in points with 66, although he didn't play after January 5 when he took a hit from Tampa Bay's Victor Hedman. He had also absorbed a hard check to the head four days earlier in the Winter Classic against Washington.
There were indications that Crosby would try to come back late last season or in the playoffs, but he wasn't fully recovered.
Crosby met the media on September 7 at the start of training camp, with doctors and general manager Ray Shero at his side, and everyone involved maintained that the former MVP would not return until he is 100 percent recovered.
He has been skating with the team during practice.
The Pens also made the following moves to reduce their roster to 23 players: Forwards Jason Williams, along with defensemen Alexandre Picard and Brian Strait were assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League; defenseman Joseph Morrow was returned to Portland of the Western Hockey League; forwards Dustin Jeffrey and Nick Petersen and defensemen Boris Valabik and Robert Bortuzzo were also placed on IR.
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