Sidney Crosby Illness: Updates on Penguins Star's Status and Return

Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby suffered from the mumps, but returned to action Thursday night against the Avalanche.

Continue for updates.

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Crosby Returns to Lineup Thursday

Thursday, Dec. 18  

The Penguins revealed Crosby is ago for Thursday's game against the Avalanche:

Penguins head coach previously Mike Johnston offered an update on Crosby's status ahead of Thursday night's game against Colorado, via Dave Molinari of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

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Crosby No Longer Contagious

Monday, Dec. 15

Root Sports Pittsburgh shared an update on Sidney Crosby's condition, revealing that he is no longer contagious as he tries to recover from the mumps.

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Crosby Diagnosed with Mumps, Out Monday vs. Lightning

Sunday, Dec. 14

TSN's Bob McKenzie announced Crosby's diagnosis. The Penguins later confirmed the diagnosis and provided a timeline for his return:

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Crosby will continue to be monitored daily, but specialists believe he should be through the infectious period by Monday.

He will not play in Monday’s home game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

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Penguins Doctor, GM Speak On Crosby's Illness

Sunday, Dec. 14

Shelly Anderson of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette provided comments from the Penguins' doctor, as well as Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford:

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Crosby Will Miss Two Games Due to Illness

Friday, Dec. 12

Crosby will miss the next two games due to illness, the Penguins announced:

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Sidney Crosby will be held out of the Pittsburgh Penguins' next two games as a precautionary measure, Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford said today.

Crosby has not been feeling well. Medical specialists made the recommendation after further test results came back today.

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Many observers believe Crosby has come down with a case of the mumps—which has been sweeping through the league in recent weeks—based largely off his appearance in this picture, via Seth Rorabaugh of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

However, the team denied in the announcement that Crosby had mumps.

"There is no indication at this time that this is the mumps, but we are going to hold him out as a precaution," Rutherford said. "We'll have additional test results in a few days."

Head coach Mike Johnston also denied reports that Crosby has mumps, according to Rorabaugh:

Although Pittsburgh is a talented team featuring the likes of Evgeni Malkin, Chris Kunitz and Kris Letang, among others, losing a player of Crosby's caliber for any period of time is obviously crippling.

No. 87 is the reigning Hart Trophy winner as league MVP, and he netted the Art Ross Trophy as well with an NHL-high 104 points in 2013-14. Crosby has won each of those prestigious awards on two occasions, and he is a former Stanley Cup champion too.

The Halifax, Nova Scotia, native is viewed by many as this generation's version of Wayne Gretzky, and he has managed to bolster those claims on many occasions.

Despite routinely being among the NHL's top teams during the regular season, the Pens have been unable to win the Stanley Cup since doing so in 2008-09. Crosby's health issues have definitely contributed to that, but former head coach Dan Bylsma and general manager Ray Shero ended up taking the heat.

Johnston and Jim Rutherford replaced them, respectively, in hopes of sparking a team with enough talent to win it all.

As has always been the case with Crosby's previous injuries, the onus will once again be on Malkin to shoulder more of the team's offensive load. As a two-time Art Ross Trophy winner as well as a Hart Trophy and Conn Smythe Trophy winner, the Russian star is more than capable of being the lead dog.

In addition to that, complementary scorers like Kunitz, Pascal Dupuis and Patric Hornqvist will have to make an impact. Since scoring may not come as easily for the Pens with Crosby out, goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury has to be on top of his game.

The Penguins have enough talent to succeed with Crosby out of the lineup, but he adds a different dimension that simply can't be replaced.

Crosby is the best player in hockey, and the entire Pens organization will be eagerly anticipating his return.

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