Will Sidney Crosby be ready for training camp?

Will Sidney Crosby be ready for the start of training camp in just a few short weeks after missing the latter half of last season thanks to a concussion sustained in early January?

It’s still too soon to tell.

According to TSN, reports surfaced out of Halifax that Crosby cancelled on-ice training sessions at a local rink due to a recurrence of concussion symptoms, prompting many to believe that Crosby was forced to stop training until symptoms subsided. Crosby’s agent, Pat Brission, said that this was not true.

“Sidney hasn’t been shut down by anyone,” Brisson said. “He has simply adjusted his summer program accordingly to the different needs for the appropriate recovery.”

Amidst rumors that Crosby will not be ready to play by the start of training camp, Brisson stated that it’s still too early to tell.

“Training camp is in three weeks from now. It is too premature to speculate all kinds of deliberate information at his point,” Brisson said. “Sidney will address the media at the appropriate time in order to give everyone an update. As far as I know, training camp hasn’t started yet.”

This is the second time in a week that Crosby’s health status has been questions. Last week, Penguins GM Ray Shero responded to similar allegations about Crosby when NHL Home Ice radio producer Josh Rimer tweeted, “Also hearing from 3 sources now that Sidney Crosby won’t b ready 2 start season. I hope its not true because the NHL needs its best players!”

Shero responded to claims and stated that Crosby was experiencing some concussion symptoms, but nothing that forced him to stop training. Shero reiterated that Crosby was cleared to train without contact and that clearance to train with contact would not be sought until at least a week before training camp begins on September 16.

Sidney Crosby isn’t the only player who could miss training camp or the start of the season this year thanks to concussion symptoms. David Perron of the St. Louis Blues has alrady been ruled out for training camp and the start of the season thanks to lingering symptoms. There has been little to report about Marc Savard of the Boston Bruins as well as he battles concussion symptoms.

With Crosby’s health and playing status coming into question twice in a week’s span, the answers to those questions seem very non-committal. The truth may be that nobody knows what Crosby’s status is and when he will return. That’s one of the frustrating aspects of concussions, they simply take time to heal and get everything back to normal. At this point, these are merely rumors and speculation regarding Crosby’s playing status. Like Brisson said, Crosby will address the media with these issues at the appropriate time. Until then, Crosby needs to focus in getting himself healthy and putting his safety before hockey.