Photo credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Sidney Crosby is officially missing a minimum of four weeks as Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan navigates a brutal injury crisis.
The captain finally broke his silence on Wednesday regarding the massive hit that ended his Olympic tournament in Milan. Taking the microphone, he delivered a completely unexpected perspective on the collision.
Radko Gudas caught him with a devastating open-ice collision that completely derailed Team Canada and sent massive shockwaves through the entire hockey world. That hit effectively ended their gold medal aspirations.
Everyone initially expected the 38-year-old veteran to aggressively rip the opposing defenseman for delivering such a dangerous check. Emotions were incredibly high after the devastating international exit.
Instead, he took the high road and openly defended the aggressive nature of the physical play. He understands the brutal physical toll required to win in the trenches.
He bluntly stated he had absolutely zero problem with the hit and expects every single defenseman to step up and play hard. The speed of the modern game dictates those heavy collisions.
It simply went the wrong way on his end of the heavy physical exchange. He fully accepted the unfortunate outcome as just another routine part of the grueling sport.
Crosby breaks the silence on Gudas hit
He even added that the rugged Czech blueliner absolutely doesn't need to reach out or apologize for doing his job on the ice. That level of accountability is incredibly rare today.
"I didn't have a problem with the play. He was trying to be physical and step up. Play hard as any defenseman would. It went the wrong way as far as my end of it. I don't think he should feel the need to reach out or anything like that. It's hockey and that stuff happens. Unfortunately, it's one of those things."
That kind of stoic leadership is exactly why he wears the "C" on his sweater and commands absolute respect across the entire league. He never makes cheap excuses for a tough break.
But losing his elite offensive output for a full month is an absolute disaster for a roster actively fighting tooth and nail for an Eastern Conference wildcard spot.
Without his controlled entries and elite vision heavily driving the transition game, the rest of the forward group must step up immediately. They cannot afford to start bleeding points in the standings.
Over his NHL career, the superstar center has proven he can return from serious adversity without missing a single beat. His rehabilitation process is always incredibly disciplined and heavily structured.
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