Penguins star Crosby ready to skate again

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby is ready to resume skating.

Coach Dan Bylsma said before Pittsburgh’s game at the Washington Capitals on Wednesday night that Crosby would skate during the team’s road trip, which includes visits to the Florida Panthers on Friday and the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday.

Crosby is with the Penguins and was in the press box wearing a jacket and tie Wednesday.

Out with lingering concussion symptoms, Crosby hasn’t played since Dec. 5.

Bylsma said Crosby had been working out in the weight room and riding a bike.

“I’ll certainly be glad to see him on the ice,” Bylsma added.

Draft rankings:

European imports and defensemen dominate the NHL’S North American league midseason draft rankings.

Of the top North American skaters, the lone three forwards — Nail Yakupov, Mikhail Grigorenko and Radek Faksa — are European imports playing in the Canadian Hockey League.

No. 4 Faksa is from the Czech Republic, and No. 1 Yakupov and No. 2 Grigorenko are Russian.

If they go in that order, Yakupov and Grigorenko would join 2004’s Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin as the only Russians to go 1-2 in the draft.

The rest of the top 10 is made up of defensemen, including Jacob Trouba (U.S. under-18 team), the top American at No. 9. Swede Filip Forsberg is the top European league player.

Surgery:

Montreal Canadiens captain Brian Gionta (biceps surgery) is out indefinitely.