Penguins provide important update on Sidney Crosby ahead of the trade deadline

Crosby has been sidelined since returning from the Milan Olympics with an undisclosed injury sustained during international play. The captain was spotted skating briefly before the team's morning session on Thursday, marking his first appearance on the ice in over two weeks.

Dubas emphasized that the 38-year-old superstar is working "long hours" every day to get back into the lineup.

The GM noted that the team has hopefully "crossed the peak" of the rehab process.

For a Penguins squad currently fighting for a wild card spot, getting 87 back is the ultimate deadline acquisition. Crosby was having another vintage season before the break, sitting with 68 points through 55 games.

His absence has left a massive void in the top six and on the power play.

Over his NHL career, Crosby has been the heartbeat of this franchise for two decades. Now, Dubas is calling on the rest of the roster to "give back" by stacking points while the captain finishes his recovery.

The locker room morale surely got a lift seeing the captain back on blades.

The timing of this recovery is vital with the trade deadline arriving on Friday.

While other teams are mortgaging the future for rentals, the Penguins are focused on the health of their franchise pillar. If Crosby can test his injury on the ice without a setback, a return in mid-March seems increasingly likely.

The depth scoring has stepped up recently, but the Penguins need their leader for the stretch run.

Evgeni Malkin and Erik Karlsson have carried the heavy lifting lately. However, the tactical advantage of having Crosby match up against opposing top lines is something no trade can replicate.

The march toward the postseason just got a lot more interesting in Pittsburgh.