Sidney Crosby: Why the NHL Needs Him Back

The Pittsburgh Penguins got more good news on the injury front on Wednesday when it was announced that team captain Sidney Crosby would go on the team's road trip to Washington D.C. and Florida. While on the trip, he would be skating and addressing the media.

Even though there is no return date set, this is better than hearing he is still experiencing symptoms and only doing light workouts.

While the Penguins are happy about this step in the right direction, the NHL should also be happy that one of their marquee players is getting ready for a return to action. Here are some reasons why.

A Concussion Success Story

Before Crosby was taken out of the Penguins' lineup with his latest setback, he looked like he was returning to the player of old. In eight games, he had 12 points, including four points in his comeback game against the New York Islanders.

If Crosby had not gotten hurt last month against the Boston Bruins, his numbers would have been ridiculous for a player who missed the first month-and-a-half, as he was averaging 1.5 points per game. It would have been a feel-good story to see a player who missed so much time continue playing like arguably the world's top player.

In a league where Chris Pronger is out for the season because of severe post-concussion syndrome and Marc Savard hasn't played since 2011 as a result of suffering two concussions in less than a year, the NHL could use Crosby to show that players can bounce back from this and still be key contributors.

Marketability

While many NHL fans will watch games regardless of whether or not Sidney Crosby is playing, there are also some fans who buy tickets or watch broadcasts of games specifically to see Crosby. This is what the NHL wants to see, as they tend to make a strong push towards marketing the game at casual fans.

Crosby is one of the league's most recognizable faces. Even though there is other talent such as Jonathan Toews or Steven Stamkos to focus on in commercials or on NHL video game covers, the league likes to focus on Crosby as much as possible. He has endorsements for companies such as Reebok and Gatorade, and during the 2011 Winter Classic, promotions centered around his rivalry with Alexander Ovechkin.

Sure, there are other players fans should appreciate and notice, but Crosby will always be the focus. His absence may have put other players into the spotlight, but when he is back, the NHL will be quick to get him back out there in front of as many people as possible.

Rivalries

When I was watching a commercial for Wednesday night's Penguins and Washington Capitals matchup on NBC Sports Network, the announcer was pushing a rivalry between Evgeni Malkin and Alexander Ovechkin.

Don't get me wrong, Malkin and Ovechkin are great players who can also be counted among the best in the world, but for some reason, playing up a rivalry between these two just didn't sound right.

The Penguins' biggest rivals are the Philadelphia Flyers and the Capitals, and they also have some intense games with the Detroit Red Wings. When Crosby is healthy, he is always prepared for these games and does some of his best work against these opponents. It doesn't feel right marketing the Pens' rival games without Crosby.

The NHL likes to put rivalry games on national television because they bring in high television ratings and generate plenty of discussion among fans. The home arenas can also sell them out pretty easy, which means more revenue for teams and the league. Without Crosby, marketing them becomes a little more challenging.

But once he returns, he will again be one of the players everyone will watch when the Pens face the Flyers or another rival.

Eliminate Distractions

The mystery surrounding Sidney Crosby has dominated discussion among NHL fans and media. It seems like the longer he is out, the more questions that are raised. Some have gone to the extreme, including former player Jeremy Roenick, who spoke out on TV, saying he was tired of hearing about Crosby.

Roenick's sentiment is shared by many others, mostly fans of other teams who feel their players aren't getting enough attention because the media is too focused on Crosby. In fact, when Crosby came back in November, Pittsburgh issued over 250 media credentials for the game, and the NHL Network and website had wall-to-wall coverage of everything from his morning skate to his first shift.

When Crosby returns, there will again be a lot of hype around his first game. However, it is only one night, and things will go back to normal once he resumes play. This will put other talented players in focus and allow the league to cover other games going on.

The Penguins will also be grateful, as head coach Dan Bylsma will no longer have to answer questions about Crosby's status, and the team can look to get back on track and finish the season on a high note.