Music: {allcanada} Crosby shouldn't come back this season: Cherry

Sunday, April 3, 2011

{allcanada} Crosby shouldn't come back this season: Cherry

If Don Cherry had his way, Sidney Crosby would be as far away from this season's NHL playoffs as humanly possible.

On his latest Coach's Corner segment Saturday, the colourful Hockey Night in Canada commentator urged the Pittsburgh Penguins to shelve their concussed superstar for the rest of the season, regardless of whether he'll be able to play again.

"To even think about Crosby coming back is nuts," Cherry said.

The Cole Harbour, N.S., native has been out of the lineup with a concussion since early January after getting hit in the head in successive games, derailing his MVP-like season.

Crosby had been on pace for the best offensive showing of his career, leading the NHL at the time with 32 goals and 34 assists.

But on Jan. 1, Crosby was hit by then-Washington forward Dave Steckel. Tampa Bay defenceman Victor Hedman followed that up a game later with another hard hit. Steckel collided with Crosby while the Penguins star was turned, while Hedman drove him into the glass with a check.

Crosby has recently begun skating again and was cleared to join Penguins teammates in skating sessions on Wednesday, with hopes that he will return for Pittsburgh's playoff run.

But Cherry referred to the Eric Lindros example as proof that Crosby should stay away from the ice. After being out of the lineup for a couple of months during the 1999-2000 season, Lindros returned to the Philadelphia lineup during the final two games of the Eastern Conference final.

What happened in Game 7 of that series is now infamous, as big-hitting New Jersey defenceman Scott Stevens caught Lindros with his head down cutting across the middle and levelled him with a devastating check.

Lindros suffered another concussion and wasn't cleared to play again until halfway through the 2000-01 season.