Penguins' Crosby Reveals Olympics Knee Injury

Teammate Mitch Marner discloses Crosby's Grade 2 MCL sprain as he nears return to the ice.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 12:11pm

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Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby has been sidelined since sustaining a knee injury while representing Canada at the Olympics. After weeks of secrecy around the specifics of Crosby's injury, his teammate Mitch Marner has now disclosed that Crosby suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain to his right knee. Crosby has returned to practicing with the Penguins, but the team has not yet provided a timeline for his return to game action.

Why it matters

Crosby is one of the NHL's biggest stars, and the Penguins have struggled in his absence, going 6-3 in the nine games he has missed. His return will be a major boost for the team as they push for a playoff spot.

The details

According to Marner, Crosby sustained the Grade 2 MCL sprain to his right knee during the Olympics while playing for Team Canada. An MCL sprain is an injury to the medial collateral ligament, with a Grade 2 sprain indicating a partial tear. The initial timeline for Crosby's recovery was four weeks, but the Penguins have not provided an official update on when he will return to game action.

  • Crosby was injured while playing for Canada at the 2026 Olympics.
  • Crosby has missed the Penguins' last 9 games since the Olympics injury.

The players

Sidney Crosby

The captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins and one of the NHL's elite players.

Mitch Marner

A teammate of Crosby's on the Penguins who revealed the details of Crosby's Olympic injury.

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What they’re saying

“Mitch Marner said on the Penguins' pregame show that Sidney Crosby sustained a grade 2 MCL sprain at the Olympics.”

— Mitch Marner, Penguins Teammate

What’s next

The Penguins have not provided a timeline for Crosby's return, but he has resumed practicing with the team. The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

Crosby's injury has been a significant setback for the Penguins, who have struggled in his absence. His return will be a major boost as the team pushes for a playoff spot, but the specifics of his recovery timeline remain unclear.