With so much emphasis on concussions in the NHL this season, CBCSports.com decided to look back at the major players who suffered head injuries last season.

CBC caught up readers with updates on 15 players who have come back from concussions this season.

Among those were Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby, who famously missed almost an entire season because of concussions, and Peter Mueller, who is getting a second chance with the Florida Panthers after missing almost two seasons.

Sidney Crosby, Penguins: Sid the Kid has carried over his strong play from the 2012 playoffs when he had eight points in six games following his return from concussion-like symptoms. Pittsburgh’s captain is seventh in NHL scoring this season with 13 points in nine games. A year ago, Crosby was sidelined twice for a total of 60 games.

Peter Mueller, Panthers: After just eight games, the 24-year-old center is just three goals shy of matching last year’s output over 32 starts. Mueller seems to have settled in with Florida, scoring four times after missing much of the past two seasons with a concussion. He returned to Colorado’s lineup last Jan. 12 after experiencing concussion symptoms three games into the 2011-12 campaign.

For some of these players, like Patrick Eaves of the Red Wings, the lockout-shortened season may have been a blessing in disguise.

Patrick Eaves, Red Wings: The 28-year-old right-winger returned to action Jan. 21, almost 14 months after suffering a broken jaw and severe concussion when hit in the side of the face by a shot from Nashville defenseman Roman Josi on Nov. 15, 2011. Eaves has yet to score but has an assist in six games.

 

– Bill Bradley, contributing editor