Blackhawks winger Marian Hossa said today he is ready to take another step in his rehab from off-season shoulder surgery. The free-agent signee will begin contact drills in practice either Thursday or Friday.
"I feel better and better every day and probably (Thursday) or Friday for first contact," said Hossa, who has been practicing with Hawks teammates with no checking. "There will be a little contact, not a full one yet but a little one, and that's going to be a good test. If I pass that I can go to full contact."
Hossa, who led the Detroit Red Wings with 40 goals last season before signing a 12-year, $62.8 million with the Hawks, is expected to make his debut during the team's six-game road trip which begins Nov. 19 in Calgary.
"That's the time they told me, four months after surgery, so right around that time I should be fit," Hossa said following the Hawks' morning skate in preparation for tonight's game against the Colorado Avalanche at the United Center. "If I don't feel 100 percent it will be an extra week or if I feel better I can go sooner a week.
"It's been a while so I'm looking forward to play. It's getting tiring just to skate by myself. The shooting is good withouth the pain so that's the main thing. My conditioning is getting there too. With the strength, I'm still working at the gym. I don't lift heavy right now but it's getting there."
One-timers: The Hawks and Avalanche are meeting for
the third time already this season and the first two were determined by
lengthy shootouts, with each team earning the extra point. ... Forward
Kris Versteeg leads the Hawks with four assists in the two games.
Cristobal Huet will start in goal for the Hawks. The veteran is 3-2-2
with a 2.39 goals-against average against Colorado in his career.
... Bobby Hull will drop the ceremonial first puck as part of the
Hawks' Heritage Night series.
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speaking of goons, why can't the hawks take a flyer on the vancouvers macyntyre who was released. he's quite a big guy who could protect the little hawks
I'm going to the 3 California games later this month, and as much as I want to see Hosa I'm hoping he waits until after we finish with the Goons of Anaheim.