Penguins/NHL
Crosby, Jeffrey & Malkin Camp Status Updates
PITTSBURGH –Penguins players reported to camp this morning and there were no surprise developments so far. Penguins captain Sidney Crosby addressed his camp status this morning and Crosby has been cleared to practice with the team for the start of camp.
Crosby though remains in the same boat as last spring in that he’s allowed to practice but not with contact. At this point, there is still no timetable for when doctors will begin to intergrate contact.
Crosby said that a primary focus for the start of camp is getting back into shape. He last played an NHL game on January 5, 2011.
A positive development for Crosby is that things finally appear to be progressing for him. “Whatever symptoms I’ve had have been pretty minimal, ” Crosby said. “Able to get cleared to do this is good.
Feel like I’ve done pretty good tests of exertion at different points and responded well. Think main thing is I feel pretty comfortable and confident with where I’m at heading into camp.”
Elsewhere on the injury front, Dustin Jeffrey continues to progress very well from April knee surgery. Jeffrey like Crosby, has been cleared to practice with the team but doctors aren’t ready to integrate contact just yet. Jeffrey is expected to be held out of this weekends scrimmages.
The Penguins and Jeffrey are confident that he will be ready for the start of the regular season. The team though will be cautious with him early on in camp.
Updated: Evgeni Malkin who is also coming off ACL surgery and has not played an NHL game since February, told the media today that the knee is around 90%.
