Sidney Crosby: Penguins Superstar's Return Will Make Pittsburgh Cup Favorites

According to a Yahoo report,  Sidney Crosby, the former league MVP who has been out since January with a concussion, will make his long anticipated return to action tonight. 

This marks the end of a long healing process which at times had people wondering whether he would ever return at all. It wasn't until October 13 that he was even cleared for practice. 

Even without Crosby in the lineup, the Penguins have been one of the league's best teams this year, compiling 25 points in the standings, tied for third most in the NHL. 

Prior to his injury, Crosby had established himself as one of the best players in the league, if not the best. He won the Hart Memorial Trophy in 2007, the second youngest winner after Wayne Gretzky. He won the Lester B. Pearson award the same season. 

In just 412 games, Crosby already has 572 points, with 215 goals and 357 assists. He has the 10th most points per game through his first six seasons of any player in NHL history with 1.39. 

Crosby also led his team to a Stanley Cup in 2008. 

Needless to say, when you are already one of the premier teams in the NHL and, for all intents and purposes, you are adding a premiere player, you're chances of winning go way up. 

In fact, the Penguins may have been good enough to win without Crosby. With him, they become the team to beat. 

Crosby shouldn't take much time to work his way into the timing but it's questionable as to what kinds of hits he's taken since he was cleared for contact. Considering the caution with which he and his medical team have approached this so far, it's unlikely that they'd put him back in action prematurely if he weren't ready to take a hit.