A reporter for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote Thursday that Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said there was nothing new to report on the Sidney Crosby concussion front while the following day, March 11, 2011, the St. Louis Blues announced they were shutting down concussed forward David Perron for the season.
Perron was injured in early November after an elbow from San Jose Shark Joe Thornton. On the play Perron did not have the puck and Thornton skated from the penalty box and went right for Perron, who was skating up-ice and not looking, leveling him with an elbow to his head. Thornton was suspended for two games, one of the few times this season a player has been suspended for a hit to the head.
No Timetable for Sidney Crosby Return
By telling Pittsburgh reporter Shelly Anderson that there was no change in the status of Sidney Crosby, coach Bylsma has left it up for debate how Crosby was doing. On March 1 Bylsma has said that Crosby had experienced some improvement but that the star was still experiencing concussion symptoms.
"(Crosby's return) may be a month, we don't know, it could be this summer," coach Bylsma told reporters in Toronto after a team skate at that time. "He's been doing a lot better. We hope that means he will return to 100 percent health sometime this spring. I can't give you any kind of date on it."
Rumors of Sidney Crosby Retirement Unfounded
Meanwhile Sportsnet reported that Crosby's agent, Pat Brisson, emphatically denying reports that Crosby's family were trying to get him to retire from the game. Those rumors appear to have been started by a radio sports show host, Bob McCown, in Toronto.
"With Twitter and social media, people get carried away," said Brisson. "It's irresponsible. This report is baseless. At no time has retirement ever been discussed." Brisson went on to say that Crosby was showing improvement signs but that they could not say when, or if, he'd be back this season. He said Crosby's parents were be very supportive of their son as he goes through the recovery process.
David Perron Shut Down, More Head Shots in NHL
Perron, St. Louis, says, will focus on recovery for next season, much like the Boston Bruins did last month with Marc Savard. The Blues feel the stress of working to play again will not be helpful and they'd rather proceed with caution. With 14 games to go the Blues are in 13th place, 10 points from eighth and out of the race for the Stanley Cup playoffs.
As Crosby and Perron struggle with their head injuries, Max Pacioretty of Montreal begins the road to recovery from his. The Zdeno Chara hit on Pacioretty caused a storm of debate over the NHL's failure to protect player's heads and league sponsors Air Canada and Via Rail voiced opinion that the league must do more about head shots.
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