The Sidney Crosby watch is still in effect, as head coach Dan Bylsma told reporters he wouldn't play this weekend's games and that there wasn't news on a return date for their star forward.
Crosby did not speak to the media for the second straight day, as Bylsma provided the update following Thursday's practice.
"Although we have given no timetable or date, I will confirm Sidney Crosby is not playing in the next two days," Bylsma told the media following the skate. "He had a good week of practice and is progressing but he won't be playing this weekend.
"We are not keeping a secret. When he is going to play, will make sure to let you know."
Asked how eager he was to get Crosby back into the lineup, Bylsma said eager was not the word he would use.
"Seeing him progress and knowing the length of time and what he's gone through over the past 10 months, we want to make sure we're going through the right steps to have him return and be healthy and ready to play," he said. "So eager is not really what I look at.
"He looks great. He flies around but in terms of the progressing and the rehab that the doctors have set out and going through and getting practice with people and hitting people and we definitely want to make sure we go through that process. And when that process is over sometime down the road, we will see one of the most gifted players in the world return to the game."
On Monday, Crosby addressed the media about earlier reports of a possible return this Friday.
"Their guess is as good as mine," he said.
The 24-year-old has practiced with the club since training camp opened Sept. 17 and has remained symptom-free from his concussion that occurred following hits in successive games on Jan. 1 and Jan. 5.
The Penguins host the Dallas Stars on Friday and then visit the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday. The earliest possible return date for Crosby would be Tuesday at home against the Colorado Avalanche.
