The Olympic break has barely ended, but the Pittsburgh Penguins have already suffered a significant blow to their forward. Captain Sidney Crosby was placed on Injury Reserve earlier today and was confirmed by an official announcement from the Penguins’ X handle.
The center is out with a lower-body injury sustained during the 2026 Winter Olympics. But it is not all bad news for the Penguins. In a corresponding roster move, defenseman Kris Letang has been activated from Injured Reserve after missing four weeks with a fractured foot.
Sidney Crosby suffered the injury during the Olympic QF against Czechia
Crosby suffered the injury during Canada’s quarterfinal win over Czechia on February 19. The 38-year-old left the game in the second period after taking multiple hits from Radko Gudas and did not return. His right leg appeared to bend awkwardly when Gudas fell on top of him near the red line.
The Penguins’ captain was ruled out for Canada’s semifinal against Finland and made the difficult decision to sit out the gold medal game against the United States. Canada lost 2-1 in overtime as Connor Hellebuyck backstopped Team USA to its first Olympic gold medal since the 1980 Miracle on Ice.
Crosby tried everything to return for the gold medal game, consulting with multiple medical experts in Milan and skating both Friday and Saturday before the Sunday final.
He ultimately determined he could not help the team at full capacity and prioritized giving Canada the best chance to win.
“It’s pretty clear, given the situation, whether you can either play or not play,” Crosby said after the game, according to ESPN. “And I just didn’t feel like I was able to.” The injury comes at a critical time for Pittsburgh, which sits second in the Metropolitan Division with a 29-15-12 record and 70 points.
The Penguins have exceeded expectations this season after missing the playoffs since 2022, building a comfortable playoff cushion with their strong 8-2-2 start. Crosby has been instrumental in Pittsburgh’s success, recording 1,746 career points across 652 goals and 1,094 assists in his 19-year career.
The three-time Stanley Cup champion remains one of the league’s elite players despite being the oldest player on Canada’s Olympic roster. Estimates suggest that he would be out for atleast four weeks. But Letang’s activation provides a boost to Pittsburgh’s blue line.
The 38-year-old defenseman was placed on Injured Reserve on January 31 with a fractured foot and missed a minimum of four weeks. He leads Penguins defensemen with 25 points in 50 games while averaging 22:06 of ice time.
The Penguins currently pace for 102.5 points over a full season, positioning them well above the playoff cutline. Pittsburgh holds a game in hand on several Metropolitan Division rivals as they navigate the final stretch without their captain.
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