Steckel's stance

Want to wipe the smile right off Dave Steckel's face?

Just walk up to him and mention the name Sidney Crosby.

Whoops, there it goes.

With Crosby seemingly getting very close to returning to the lineup of the Pittsburgh Penguins, possibly this Friday when they host the Dallas Stars, Steckel may finally have some sort of closure.

Crosby has been out since last Jan. 5. That's because it was the Toronto Maple Leafs centre (who was playing for the Washington Capitals at the time), that accidentally made contact with Crosby's head in the Winter Classic outdoor game Jan. 1. That hit apparently set in motion the sequence that has had the best player in the world out for nearly a year.

Four days later, Crosby was rammed into the end boards by Tampa Bay Lightning defenceman Victor Hedman and he has not played in a game since.

Steckel was asked if he felt good about the fact Crosby is close to returning and said, "It's the same question I answered when he was given clearance for body contact. I wish him all the best. I mean, it was unintentional and I hope he comes back sooner rather than later. I'm sure Sidney is as sick as I am of answering the same questions day in and day out as I am. There's not much more I can say about it. I am just reiterating what happened and how I feel about it. Obviously you don't like to see anybody out for that long so hopefully he's okay."

Crosby has been skating with his teammates more than a month and was cleared for contact Oct. 13. Steckel, meanwhile, was traded to the New Jersey Devils last season and was acquired by the Leafs Oct. 4. A face-off specialist that had the best winning percentage in the NHL last season, Steckel has always maintained the hit on Crosby was incidental contact. He wasn't even looking in Crosby's direction when the two collided.

Some believe him, others don't.

"I'm sure for as many people who thought it was an accident there are as many people who think it was intentional," Steckel said. "Obviously people who are with me say they think it was an accident, whether they actually believe that or they're just trying to make me feel better."

One player who sympathizes with what Crosby has been through is Steckel's teammate Matthew Lombardi. The 29-year-old forward missed all but two games last season because of a concussion he suffered as a member of the Nashville Predators.

"I've always said, unless you have experienced it, it's hard to understand," Lombardi said about the recovery process. "Obviously watching Sid's progression, we know that he's tried pretty hard to get back and he's had a lot of setbacks. It's one of those things you can't control. You want to be out there and you want to push yourself, but your body won't let you. It's almost like it has a governor on it that won't let you get past that threshold that you want to go through without feeling bad or having some terrible symptoms."

Concussions are being treated more seriously these days, in a large part because the best player in the NHL has been out for so long. Still, there are those that wonder if Crosby wasn't being too cautious, after all, it's just like a headache, right? That's what one player suggested to sportsnet.ca.

Lombardi said that could not be further from the truth.

"It is pretty naive to think it's just a headache," he said. "I've had headaches and they are not the same. That must be coming from a guy who has never experienced a real concussion with the symptoms that you experience. If you're riding the bike for five minutes and your heart rate is not even at 100 and you get off the bike and your head feels like it is going to explode and you can't even function for the rest of the day; let alone watch TV or read a book … it's a little more than just a headache."

Lombardi said he wishes Crosby the best in his return. With that said, he doesn't envy No. 87 and all the attention he is receiving.

"Obviously he's in a unique situation being the player he is with everybody watching his every move," Lombardi said. "There is going to be a lot of attention on him when he does come back. They have obviously done a good job and when he gets back you know he's going to be 100 per cent healthy. He'll be fine."

Monday - Since you've been gone: Crosby timeline

Tuesday - Brophy on Crosby: Steckel's stance

Wednesday - Grange: The tentative approach

Thursday - Spector: David Booth & his return from concussion

Friday - Brunt: Sid's return | Grange: In Pittsburgh | Marek: The Sheet

Veteran hockey columnist Mike Brophy will cover the Toronto Maple Leafs for sportsnet.ca for the 2011/12 season.