Sidney Crosby is as baffled as anyone.

The Pittsburgh Penguins’ superstar said after skating with the team Friday he feels like he is improving but, nearly 2 1/2 months since he last played, he remains troubled daily by concussion-like symptoms.

“It doesn’t consistently get worse or better,” Crosby said. “It’s a roller-coaster. They’re not fun.”

The Penguins have said Crosby won’t play again until he is symptom-free from the concussion-related issues that have perplexed hockey’s biggest star for 14 months. Therefore, the timetable for his return remains as indefinite as ever.

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The NHL trade deadline is nine days away, and there are less than six weeks in the Penguins’ regular season after that.

It might be easier for general manager Ray Shero and his staff to know what moves, if any, to pursue if he had an idea whether center and captain Sidney Crosby might be back in the lineup before the playoffs.

Crosby simply cannot oblige.

He has been dealing with concussion-like symptoms perhaps related to a neck injury for more than two months and has played in just eight games dating to early January 2011. He said Friday he still has headaches but the trouble he has had with motion and balance has subsided.

He did not travel with the club for weekend afternoon games today at Philadelphia and Sunday at Buffalo, N.Y.. Continue reading »

While his teammates quickly dressed for a flight to Philadelphia, Sidney Crosby remained in his practice attire Friday afternoon, sitting alone at his Southpointe locker.

The biggest question in local sports — when will Crosby return to the lineup? — remains a mystery to the Penguins’ captain, who met with the media yesterday but was unable to provide the answer that the hockey world craves.

“I feel like I’m getting better,” Crosby said. “I’m still not symptom-free. It’s pretty clear cut. There’s no gray area. Either you’re symptom-free and you can have contact, or you’re not.”

Crosby skated with the Penguins yesterday simply because ice was not available later in the day at Southpointe or Consol Energy Center. He has skated almost daily since a learning three weeks ago that a soft-tissue injury in his neck was potentially responsible for the concussion-like symptoms Crosby is dealing with.

Crosby had good and bad news to report. Continue reading »