PITTSBURGH (AP) - Sidney Crosby planned to spend Oct. 11th watching opening night of the NHL season. Instead, the Pittsburgh Penguins star will spend it watching the Steelers.

Crosby says the NHL players are ``willing to make a deal'' as the lockout continues, but that the owners ``have their deal, we have our deal and they want their deal.'' He is optimistic the owners are negotiating in good faith and aren't stalling to put more pressure on the players.

The former MVP has spent the last few weeks skating with a few of his teammates at Pittsburgh's practice facility and says he feels great after spending much of the last two seasons dealing with concussion-like symptoms.

Crosby says he has no immediate plans to play hockey elsewhere if the lockout isn't resolved soon.