Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby is expected to miss a minimum of four weeks with the lower-body injury he sustained while playing for Team Canada at the Milan Cortina Olympics.
The Penguins announced the timeline and placed the star center on injured reserve Wednesday.
“Obviously, I want to be back out there as soon as possible,” Crosby said. “Just have to figure out what that looks like, how long it’s going to be and find a way to make sure that I’m at my best when I come back.”
Also on Wednesday, Pittsburgh announced defenseman Kris Letang has been activated from injured reserve. He was placed on IR on Jan. 31 due to a broken foot.
Crosby, 38, suffered an apparent right leg injury in Canada’s 4-3 overtime win against Czechia in the quarterfinals.
He was trying to avoid a hit from Radko Gudas by ducking. Gudas, at full speed, fell over Crosby, whose right leg bent underneath him in an awkward manner.
“I didn’t have a problem with the play,” Crosby said. “He was trying to be physical and step up. Play hard as any defenseman would. It went the wrong way as far as my end of it. I don’t think he should feel the need to reach out or anything like that. It’s hockey and that stuff happens. Unfortunately, it’s one of those things.”
Crosby has recorded 59 points (27 goals, 32 assists) in 56 games this season for the Penguins, who reside in second place in the Metropolitan Division as the NHL returns to action Wednesday.
He has 1,746 career points (652 goals, 1,094 assists) in 1,408 games over 21 seasons with Pittsburgh. He is a three-time Stanley Cup champion and led Canada to Olympic gold at Vancouver in 2010 and Sochi in 2014 before settling for silver in Italy.
Letang, 38, has recorded 25 points (three goals, 22 points) in 50 games this season.
A two-time Stanley Cup champion and two-time All-Star, Letang has recorded 797 points (178 goals, 619 assists) in 1,211 games since Pittsburgh drafted him in the third round in 2005.
He ranks third in franchise history in games behind longtime teammates Crosby and Evgeni Malkin (1,254).
–Field Level Media
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