Penguins C Sidney Crosby reportedly is "angry enough to pull his considerable star presence" from the NHL All-Star Game "because he does not think the NHL is doing enough to protect its players," according to David Shoalts of the GLOBE & MAIL. Crosby has missed five straight games while recovering from a concussion believed to stem from two hits -- by Capitals LW David Steckel in the Jan. 1 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic and by Lightning D Victor Hedman on Jan. 5. An NHL source said that Crosby is "not likely to tell the NHL he is withdrawing from the all-star game to protest the fact neither player who hit him on the head was suspended." But he "could easily decline and cite the need for complete recovery from a mild concussion." The source indicated that Crosby, who "showed up at the all-star game in Montreal two years ago even though he sustained a knee injury and could not play, is not inclined to do any more such favours right now." It remains to be seen if Crosby "will be healthy enough to participate" in the event, scheduled for Jan. 28-30 in Raleigh. His agent, CAA Hockey co-Head Pat Brisson, declined to predict whether Crosby will skip the All-Star Game. Shoalts notes while Crosby "has not said publicly he is angry enough with the NHL to boycott the all-star game, he did make it clear shortly after the Hedman hit he feels both players should have been suspended" (GLOBE & MAIL, 1/18). Brisson in an e-mail said, "I haven’t discussed All-star Game plans with Sidney at all since he got injured. The last thing you need to do with a concussed player is to bring more trauma to the head." YAHOO SPORTS' Greg Wyshynski wrote whether it was "one of Crosby's representatives or someone with the Penguins that leaked this story, it didn't do Crosby any favors" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 1/17).
