Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby will likely miss the first two weeks of the season after undergoing wrist surgery Wednesday, the team announced in a release. The team said in the statement that Crosby will be out a minimum of six weeks, which would hold him out of training camp and the first four games.
This is Crosby’s second left wrist surgery in the past 13 months, as the three-time Cup winner and eight-time All-Star underwent a similar procedure last August.
“This is not a new injury for Sid,” Penguins general manager Ron Hextall said of the 34-year-old. “It is something that he has played through for years. After exhausting all minimally-invasive options and much discussion, it was decided that surgery was in his best interest.”
Pittsburgh is entering the season with significant injury concerns. Evgeni Malkin is also out of the team’s picture for at least the beginning of the year after undergoing offseason knee surgery in June. Hextall told reporters Thursday he’d clarify Malkin’s recovery timeline as the season inches closer.
The Penguins open their season on the road against two playoff teams in the defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning on Oct. 12 and the Florida Panthers on Oct. 14.
Crosby recorded 62 points in 55 games in 2020-21. Malkin, a three-time All-Star, tallied 28 points in 33 games. Pittsburgh will need those two to get healthy if it hopes to make the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2017-18.
Jeff Carter and Teddy Blueger are the Penguins’ next best center options.
