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Pittaburgh Penguins Jerseys captain Sidney Crosby's long concussion nightmare finally appears to be over. Crosby has gotten the OK to resume workouts just shy of six months after his final game of the 2010-11 NHL season. "I don't want to look too far ahead, or whatever," Penguins GM Ray Shero told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Thursday. "But there's no reason for me to expect him not to be (ready for camp), put it that way.
" Crosby's last game was Jan. 5, when he took the second of two significant hits to the head that resulted in his concussion, which was diagnosed a day later. The first was on New Year's Day, when he was clocked by David Steckel in the Penguins' Winter Classic game against the Washington Capitals. The second came against the Tampa Bay Lightning, a blow delivered by defenseman Victor Hedman. Sidney Crosby met with specialist Dr. Michael Collins on Tuesday, was cleared and went to Canada on Wednesday, the Post-Gazette reported. He is expected to begin his rigorous summer training program at home in Cole Harbor, Nova Scotia, in late July. "I don't know what his exact routine is going to be," Shero said. "A managed progression, probably." He will be monitored by his personal trainer for at least two weeks while staying in contact with Collins. "Everything will be closely managed by Dr. Collins," Shero said, "in terms of his progression leading up to him getting on the ice later in the summer per his usual routine." Crosby, 23, appeared in a career-low 41 games, missing half the regular season and all the playoffs. He was among the leaders in points and goals when he was felled and he finished with team leading totals of 32 goals and 66 points. Related on SN Sidney Crosby: Concussion symptoms returned during comeback Thursday Jun 2 Penguins parting ways with Alex Kovalev, Mike Comrie Thursday Jun 2 Hedman and the Lightning overcame a 3-1 deficit in the teams' first-round series in the Stanley Cup playoffs to eliminate the Penguins. Tampa Bay reached the Eastern Conference finals before losing to the Boston Bruins in seven games.
Crosby resumed skating and light non-contact work during the playoffs.(wealthmass
) Shero said Thursday the likelihood of Crosby playing in the playoffs "wasn't great... but he wanted to give it a try and that's what he was working so hard for." Crosby "is looking forward to being himself again," Shero told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.