Hossa set to have surgery on his rotator cuff Friday
That was fast.
A day after Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman said the club would continue to monitor Marian Hossa's rehab from an injured right shoulder, it was announced the prized free agent will undergo surgery to repair a small tear in his rotator cuff.
The surgery will take place today and sideline Hossa for up to four months.
"Marian's injury did not respond sufficiently to our non-operative treatment over the last three weeks, so we have collectively decided (Thursday) to go ahead with the surgery," Bowman said. "Marian is a franchise player and we want what is best for him and the Blackhawks long-term. This was a mutual decision and one we feel very confident is the right one."
The Hawks knew of Hossa's shoulder issue on July 1 when they signed him to a franchise record, 12-year, $62.8 million contract. The club kept the injury under wraps for almost three weeks until Monday night when the Daily Herald first reported Hossa had a shoulder problem that might require surgery.
Hossa had been doing rehab on the shoulder in Minnesota with a specialist.
"Marian has a small right rotator cuff tear that he has been battling for a while and because he is not at 100 percent with non-operative treatment, he is undergoing operative treatment (today)," Hawks head team physician Dr. Michael Terry said in a statement. "With this type of tear we anticipate a four-month post-operative recovery period, after which we expect his shoulder to be 100 percent. This is the best thing for Marian and his career long-term."
A four-month recovery would put Hossa's return date in late November, meaning he will miss at least the first 22 games of the season.
Hossa, 30, had hoped to avoid surgery as he did last season while playing with the shoulder problem with the Red Wings and scoring 40 goals.
"After consulting with my family and the Blackhawks, I have no doubt that this is the correct decision," Hossa said. "I plan on being a member of the Blackhawks for a very long time, which is why I want to get this done and begin my career in Chicago at 100 percent."
On Wednesday, Red Wings GM Ken Holland told Booth Newspapers Hossa had a shoulder problem that likely needed surgery when he signed with them in the summer of 2008.
What does Hossa's injury mean to the Hawks? It means Bowman most likely won't consider trading a scorer now with such a big hole in the offense to fill. The Hawks were counting on Hossa to replace the 29 goals the departed Martin Havlat scored last season.
While it would appear the Hawks have enough offense to compensate for Hossa's loss, there will be additional pressure on Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp, Kris Versteeg, Dustin Byfuglien and others to score goals for at least the first two months of the season.
The Hawks have a good schedule in their favor early with 12 of 17 games at the United Center after they return from playing two games in Finland against Florida to start the season.
Hossa's return could come at some point in the Hawks' six-game circus trip that begins on Nov. 19 in Calgary.