Sidney Crosby Ready For NHL Season; Can He Remain Healthy?

One of the biggest stories heading into the new NHL season is poster boy Sidney Crosby. The Pittsburgh Penguins superstar has been known for his on-ice heroics, but they have been overshadowed of late by his painful history of concussions.

Selected 1^st overall in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, the star center got his career off to a tremendous start with 102 points in his rookie season. His sophomore year saw him score 120 points and lead his team to its first major playoff berth. A year later, the injuries started, but Crosby helped the Penguins to the Stanley Cup Finals where they lost to the Detroit Redwings. In 2008-09, he finally won the coveted Cup. In 2009-10, he broke the 50-goal plateau for the first and only time in his young career. He looked to be off to an even better start in 2010-11 as he recorded a monstrous 66 points in just 41 games. However he suffered a concussion that kept him off the ice for the remainder of the season and post-season. He started the following year on the bench and made a return in late November where he posted four points against the New York Islanders. However, after playing just eight games, he was shelved again due to concussion-like symptoms. The questions of whether he would ever play again crescendo-ed until Crosby finally returned in March and played out the remainder of the season and post-season.

He rested during the course of the lockout and did his routine exercise to prepare for the season. He has not had any reported concussion-like symptoms and has stated that he is ready to play and get on with his career. "I'm just excited," Crosby said in an interview with Yahoo reporter Nicholas J. Cotsonika. "I just want to get in that first game and get going. I know it's probably going to take a couple to feel good, but I'm just excited for the opportunity."

Regarding his first match against in-state rivals the Philadelphia Flyers; Crosby added that "I'm excited. Is this ... nine in a row or eight in a row we've played against 'Philly?' That's a lot of hockey against the same team. Both teams know each other really well. I think it's just exciting to get out there and compete. When it's Philadelphia, I don't think anyone finds it hard to get it up for that one. "

If he can stay healthy, Crosby has the potential to put up to 60 or even 70 points in this shortened season. Whether or no he stays healthy is an interesting proposition. The Penguins let go some of their tough guy players over the summer including Eric Godard, but Steve MacIntryre is still on the roster to potentially protect Crosby in the event that any opposing players take liberties with the star. However, it will all come down to whether Crosby can take hits that will determine his health this year. He looked good in last season' s postseason when he got into a fisticuffs with Philadelphia Flyers star Claude Giroux. Chances are Crosby remains healthy throughout the 48 game schedule.