Independent voices from the TWT Communities
The fear is gone. The doubt too for that matter. Ditto the hesitation.

David Steckel already was gone, and Boyd Gordon got his payday with the Phoenix Coyotes. The Washington Capitals needed a fourth-line center and faceoff specialist. Jeff Halpern needed a team.

Ask former Washington Capitals forward David Steckel or Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman, who have been dealing with the stigma for 11 months. No one wants to be the player responsible for knocking Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby out of action.

The past week has been something of a 2010-11 Capitals reunion tour, with games against David Steckel, Boyd Gordon and Eric Fehr.
The New Jersey Devils have traded center David Steckel to the Toronto Maple Leafs for a fourth-round pick in next year's draft.
Sidney Crosby? No. Evgeni Malkin? No.
Penguins center Sidney Crosby returned to the ice on Monday for the first time since missing 29 games with a concussion. But if you're looking for the Pittsburgh captain's return date, it's still anyone's guess.

Penguins center Sidney Crosby returned to the ice on Monday for the first time since missing 29 games with a concussion. But if you're looking for the Pittsburgh captain's return date, it's still anyone's guess.
As Monday's NHL trade deadline approached, defenseman Dennis Wideman figured he might be headed out of town. He heard his name connected to plenty of teams _ except the Washington Capitals, where he wound up.

With the Washington Capitals struggling to recapture last year's on-ice performance, Capitals General Manager George McPhee made a splash at this year's trade deadline, landing both New Jersey Devils center Jason Arnott and Florida Panthers defenseman Dennis Wideman in separate deals Monday.
Jason Arnott seemingly is going to get another shot at a Stanley Cup.

Brooks Laich scored a blue-collar goal, Marcus Johansson got a flashy one, and the Washington Capitals stayed super on Super Sunday, beating the star-starved Pittsburgh Penguins 3-0.

Thirty-one players recorded a point in the NHL All-Star game. None of them was named Sidney Crosby.
Thirty-one players recorded a point in the NHL All-Star game. None of them was named Sidney Crosby.

Penguins captain Sidney Crosby is feeling better despite a concussion that has sidelined him for six games, but doesn't know when he can resume practicing or playing.
"I think the guys here who are stepping in take it as an opportunity to play well," Steckel said. "As a team, that's what we're going to have to do. We can't have passengers. All 20 guys have to be going on a nightly basis until some of the guys can come back."
"I welcome the opportunity. I've played well; I hope I earned that," Steckel said. "And I hope they think if anything should happen, that they can rely on me if I need to fill that spot again."