The Pittsburgh Penguins announced today that star-forward Sidney Crosby has tested positive for COVID-19.
Not the news we were hoping for.
Coach Sullivan confirms that Sidney Crosby and Brian Dumoulin missed practice after testing positive for COVID-19. Both players are in the COVID protocol right now.
Crosby has mild symptoms and Dumoulin is currently asymptomatic.
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) November 3, 2021
Crosby Out Indefinitely With COVID-19
Along with Crosby, forward Brian Dumoulin has also tested positive for the virus. Both are currently in the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol and their return dates are unknown.
Crosby, who is undeniably one of the greatest to ever lace them up, has spent his entire career with the Penguins. This season, however, he’s managed to dress for just one game. Crosby had surgery on his wrist early in September, which kept him out until October 30th. Now, Crosby will miss even more time after being diagnosed with COVID-19.
Jeff Carter will likely step in and center the first line during Crosby’s absence. something he’s become accustomed to doing this season.
What This Means for the Pittsburgh Penguins
You don’t need to be a hockey expert to know a team with Sidney Crosby is a whole lot better than without him. However, this is nothing new for the Penguins. Crosby has only appeared in one game this season, so his absence won’t be unfamiliar with the Pens.
Still, he’s still arguably the best player in the entire world, and his presence on the ice and in the locker room does wonders for any team looking to start their season off strong.
It’ll be a tough week or so for the Pens, who are just 3-3-2 to start the year. Injuries have decimated this roster and it’s not getting any better. Along with Crosby and Dumoulin, Bryan Rust, and Evgeni Malkin are both on IR to further gut the forward core.
COVID-19 is a very unpredictable virus, as we’ve seen. Thus, it’s not clear how long Crosby will be sidelined. Reports noted that he is experiencing symptoms, which will add more caution to his return.
The Penguins current roster doesn’t exactly scream scoring. But, with the absence of Crosby, they’re gonna have to find some. Carter and Kasperi Kapanen have both started the season out well, and they’ll certainly be the first names on a shortlist of Penguin forwards that can lessen this blow for the time being.
