Hawks ecstatic: No surgery for Havlat

The news Wednesday that Martin Havlat could be back in the Blackhawks' lineup at some point next month was exactly what his teammates were hoping to hear.

"Obviously, that's good news," defenseman Brent Seabrook said. "He's a very special player and we're that much better with him in the lineup. Having him back can only bring another dimension to this team going forward."

Havlat could be back on the ice in 4-6 weeks, or as soon as he regains the strength and range of motion in his injured right shoulder.

Rehab for the shoulder and not surgery was recommended by all five of the doctors who examined Havlat over the last two weeks, according to Hawks general manager Dale Tallon.

"It's good news," Tallon said. "It's a lot better than six months."

Havlat was hurt in the Oct. 4 season opener at Minnesota when he attempted to protect himself during a scrum in front of the net.

"They're going to rehab the shoulder and I'll try to be back as soon as possible," Havlat said. "They told me around five or six weeks. If it's earlier, that would be better, but that's the window the doctors, most of them, gave me. At least it's a little bit of good news."

Havlat has been skating on his own, but it likely will be several weeks until he can practice again with contact.

"The shoulder feels better than last week, but I still can't move it the way I want to," Havlat said. "I need to get the strength back so I can do the things with the stick the way I want to."

Hawks coach Denis Savard was excited by the news that he would get Havlat back in the lineup.

"It's been two weeks, so he's going to rehab for another four and then should be ready to go," Savard said. "That's what we're planning on, in four weeks to have him back in the lineup. It'll be nice."

The Hawks believe they are in better shape in terms of depth than last season to handle an injury to Havlat. A year ago, when Havlat was lost in October for 19 games with a sprained ankle, the team went into the tank.

It's not likely that Havlat would return any sooner than four weeks.

"I'll be in the gym working on all kinds of movements, trying to get around 90 percent of the strength of the other arm," Havlat said. "I think I'll have to do a test before I come back like I did my first year after surgery. Then it'll be time to come back if everything is fine."

Havlat claimed that he is convinced the shoulder would be good enough to play without the need for surgery.

"I have to be," he said. "I'll do everything to get back. It felt pretty good today, actually."