Reigning Hart Trophy winner and Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby wasn't sure if he'd need surgery on his wrist in July, but with the calendar flipping to September and training camp nearing, the NHL's MVP is healthy and ready to go.
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Crosby decided to hold off on surgery on his ailing wrist and instead chose to have multiple injections in his wrist. The captain said he is ready for the 2014-15 season and that he feels fine coming off of his Hart Trophy season.
"All good, it's all good," said Crosby, according to NHL.com.
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Crosby hurt his wrist in a March 23 game at Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh when St. Louis Blues center Ryan Reaves hit him at center ice, but Crosby was able to avoid surgery this offseason. Crosby said he jammed his wrist after the hit and fell in an awkward position.
Crosby participated in an informal skate on Monday and hopes to add to his solid 2013-14 campaign that saw him lead the NHL with 104 points and 68 assists while posting 36 goals, which was seventh in the league. Now, with the Penguins setting their sights on the 2014-15 campaign, "Sid the Kid" is excited.
"I'm really happy I didn't have to get surgery," Crosby said. "It's one of those things where you don't want to have to deal with that halfway through the summer, when you're waiting, thinking it's going to heal and it's not healing. It's nice to not have to worry about it. Everything is as it would usually be."
Crosby said the wrist limited him down the stretch, but wouldn't use it as an excuse for his postseason numbers which saw him score one tally and add eight helpers for nine points in 13 games.
"Guys are dealing with that stuff in the playoffs anyway," he said. "I think everyone has different things, bumps and bruises, all that stuff. That was just something I had to deal with and I'm sure there was a laundry list of stuff that everyone else had to deal with. I don't really know how you gauge it, but like everyone else, that's something I had to deal with."
Crosby and the Penguins struggled in the opening round, but they were able to oust the Columbus Blue Jackets in six games before blowing a 3-1 series lead and losing three straight games in the second round to the eventual Eastern Conference champion New York Rangers.
The postseason ouster led to the firing of general manager Ray Shero and head coach Dan Bylsma, who were replaced by Jim Rutherford and Mike Johnston respectively.
The Penguins won the Metropolitan Division last season, but they'll look to get deeper into the postseason this spring. Pittsburgh kicks off its preseason on Sept. 22 when it hosts the Detroit Red Wings while the puck drops on the regular season when it hosts the Anaheim Ducks on Oct. 9.
With a healthy captain, the sky is the limit for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
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