Havlat's return pushed back
Martin Havlet underwent a successful strength test on his shoulder Monday at the Cleveland Clinic, but the Blackhawks don't expect him to play before the Nov. 28 game against Tampa Bay at the United Center.
There had been hope, at least on the part of coach Denis Savard, that Havlat could return Thursday at Calgary.
Havlat flew to Cleveland for the test, which was administered by the doctor that performed his first shoulder surgery.
With Rene Bourque lost for the next six weeks and Havlat a no-go for the final three games of the road trip, the Hawks recalled forwards Kris Versteeg and Jacob Dowell from Rockford.
Sent back to Rockford was forward Dave Bolland.
Dowell, a college teammate of Adam Burish at Wisconsin, had 5 goals and 9 assists in 17 games at Rockford. Versteeg had 2 goals and 9 assists.
Dowell and Versteeg were recalled ahead of Jack Skille, Mike Blunden and Troy Brouwer, three of the Hawks' most highly touted prospects.
In addition to Bourque and Havlat being out, winger Jason Williams is doubtful for Thursday's game because of a nagging groin injury
"It might linger for a long time," Savard said.
Williams hasn't skated since Thursday's game at Nashville. Savard said he would wait until practice today to decide on line combinations for the Calgary game.
Under the knife: Rene Bourque's broken right thumb will need surgery, Denis Savard said Monday, but the winger isn't expected to be out any longer than the 4-6 weeks originally announced.
"There's more in there that needs to get done, but he shouldn't be out any longer than we thought," Savard said.
Bourque broke his thumb in the third period of Saturday's 5-3 victory at Detroit while blocking a shot.
Injuries have cost the Hawks two of their key penalty-killers, first Kevyn Adams and now Bourque.
The injury to Bourque could have rookie Jonathan Toews seeing even more ice time as a penalty-killer.
"He's been used on penalty-killing, but I've used him on the power play and a lot of 5-on-5 play, and after timeouts he's out there a lot," Savard said. "You try to keep him fresh, but he's been killing and he might have to kill a little more now."
Birthday boy: Patrick Kane turned 19 on Monday and "celebrated" by watching tape after practice with Denis Savard.
Kane and Jonathan Toews have struggled the last three games, and Savard wanted them to see some things they need to do better. Kane has no goals, 1 assist and is minus-5 in the last three games.
"I'm going to watch tape of all three kids (including Dave Bolland) and get them back on track," Savard said.
Rumor has it: An Internet report Monday claimed the Hawks were contemplating putting winger Sergei Samsonov on waivers. Samsonov is minus-6 with no goals in 15 games.
With a salary of $3.5 million, there likely would be little interest in Samsonov around the league. But if he cleared waivers, the Hawks could send him to Rockford.
Rotation set: Denis Savard said Nikolai Khabibulin would start Thursday at Calgary and Saturday at Edmonton, leaving Sunday's game at Vancouver for Patrick Lalime.