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Sept. 8 (UPI) -- Pittsburgh Penguins star center Sidney Crosby is expected to be sidelined for at least six weeks after having surgery on his left wrist, the team announced Wednesday. Dr. Robert Hotchkiss and Penguins team physician Dr. Dharmesh Vyas performed the procedure, according to the club. The timeline for Crosby's recovery means the Penguins captain will miss the start of the 2021-22 regular season.
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"This is not a new injury for Sid. It is something that he has played through for years," Penguins general manager Ron Hextall said in a statement. "After exhausting all minimally-invasive options and much discussion, it was decided that surgery was in his best interest."
The Penguins start training camp later this month and open the regular season on the road against the back-to-back Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning on Oct. 12. The window for Crosby's return would likely open around Oct. 20 at the earliest.
The 34-year-old Crosby missed just one game last season, finishing with 24 goals and 38 assists to help the Penguins win the East Division title. He recorded a goal and an assist in six games during Pittsburgh's opening-round playoff loss to the New York Islanders.
Crosby, a three-time Stanley Cup winner and two-time NHL Most Valuable Player, is entering his 17th season with the Penguins. Over 16 seasons in Pittsburgh, he has notched 486 career goals and 1,325 points over 1,039 games.
