Penguins sticking together as NHL lockout drags on

Crosby estimated the league would need a couple of weeks to get through a brief training camp while cramming in a couple of exhibitions. The long layoff has left him refreshed and while he's crisscrossed the country over the last couple months — he's attended player camps in Colorado and Arizona — there's nothing quite like lacing up the skates alongside the players who know you better than most.

"I think the one thing that's the same all the way through is that guys are trying to do their best to stay ready and they're trying to make the best of the situation," Crosby said. "That says a lot about guys and their care level. Guys want to make sure that when and if this does get settled, we're ready to go."

So Crosby will keep showing up at the practice rink four days a week. He will keep trying to make things fresh. Tuesday's turnout was encouraging, sure, but it's also part of an ebb and flow that's been typical since the lockout began.

There have been days when only a handful of players show up. While that can make it difficult at times to get motivated, it hasn't stopped Crosby from showing up, even if instead of a packed house at Consol Energy Center it's a sprinkling of fans, folks working at a gym located over one end of the ice and facility employees.

Asked if there's a scenario when Crosby decided it's time to call his teammates and tell them to skip it, and the game's biggest star just shakes his head.

"That's not going to happen," Crosby said. "If nobody's here, then either everyone has taken a day off right before camp starts or we're not playing."

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