Crosby Returns to Solo Practice, Hornqvist Joins the Fun

It’s not the best news the Pittsburgh Penguins will get in 2020. Penguins captain Sidney Crosby returned to solo workouts with Penguins skills coach Ty Hennes on Wednesday, one day after he joined the team in a non-contact jersey.

Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan was clear on Tuesday after Crosby joined the team, it was a one-day-only event and the ice schedules were the primary driver, not Crosby’s readiness. Crosby confirmed it.

“(I’ll) probably will go back to (skating) on my own” Wednesday.

True to his word, Sidney Crosby is back to skating on his own before Penguins practice today. pic.twitter.com/vEnIKiYfRT

— Shelly Anderson (@_ShellyAnderson) January 1, 2020

Also on Wednesday morning, winger Patric Hornqvist couldn’t help but join the fun while still in his shorts and sneakers.

Patric Hornqvist having a little fun in shorts and sneakers well before the start of Penguins practice. pic.twitter.com/8bPyG9lEec

— Shelly Anderson (@_ShellyAnderson) January 1, 2020

We wonder if Crosby recognized Hornqvist while not in front of the net?

There is no timetable on Crosby’s return. He told reporters including Pittsburgh Hockey Now on Tuesday that his recovery has progressed but he did not commit to a return window from core muscle surgery.

“It’s going well,” he said. “It just takes time. You need to heal. You need time to do that. I think with each week it’s gotten better and better. That’s the most important thing.”

Sidney Crosby was the Penguins leading scorer at the time when he was no longer able to play with the lingering injury. He had 17 points, including 5 goals.

The Penguins announced on Tuesday that leading scorer Jake Guentzel will miss the remainder of the regular season and likely the playoffs after having successful surgery Tuesday morning. Guentzel crashed awkwardly into the boards on Monday night against Ottawa. Evgeni Malkin is now the Penguins leading scorer with 38 points (11g, 27a) in 26 games, and the likely replacement for Guentzel on the Metro Division squad for the All-Star Game, Jan. 24-25.

Noticeably absent from the morning workout was center Nick Bjugstad, who also had core muscle surgery in early November. Bjugstad has been skating on his own.