Bolland's goal: Feb. 3 return

EDMONTON, Alberta - Dave Bolland is targeting Feb. 3 against St. Louis as his return date from back surgery.

Bolland practiced with his teammates Tuesday morning at Rexall Place for the first time since the Nov. 10 surgery and reported everything went well.

"No more shooting pain, nothing going down my leg, no more numbness - everything is unbelievable. It feels like I have new legs," Bolland said. "I was just glad to be out there with the guys, back with the tempo and the speed of the guys. It's been awhile.

"I'm hoping next Wednesday. We'll talk it over with the doctors, make sure everything is OK and go forth."

Hawks coach Joel Quenneville will wait and see how Bolland responds after a few more practices before he talks about a specific return date.

While putting Bolland with Marian Hossa might seem like the logical thing after how well the center and Martin Havlat worked together last season, Quenneville thinks the plan at first will be to ease Bolland back into the lineup.

"Right away, you might want to get him up to speed," Quenneville said. "We'll see how that all plays out, but we want to get him playing, and his play will dictate how much ice time he gets and who he's going to go with.

"I liked how he skated today. I thought he had some real quickness to his step, probably the best I have seen him look all year. After this trip we'll have a good assessment."

Roster logjam: When Dave Bolland returns, to be followed after the Olympic break by Adam Burish, the Hawks will have a 23-man roster, meaning three players must sit each game.

Joel Quenneville said he would cross that bridge when he comes to it.

"We've got options, and let's hope we have options (and no injuries)," Quenneville said. "You look at it right now and we're deep, and I'm counting (Bolland) healthy and he's not even in the lineup yet.

"Who knows what that picture is going to be like when we have to make that decision? It's never like we think it's going to be."

Because the Hawks have carried only 21 players all season despite the allowed maximum of 23, nobody has to come off the present roster when Bolland and Burish return.

Sopel rests: Defenseman Brent Sopel sat out Tuesday against the Oilers to rest his various bumps and bruises.

"It's maintenance and Jordan (Hendry) getting in the lineup too on the trip," Joel Quenneville said.