Hossa’s aching back may require surgery

Marian Hossa might need back surgery for the injury he suffered in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final.

“I may need surgery or another shot,” Hossa said Thursday. “I’ll talk to Dr. (Michael) Terry and try to make the best decision. It’s one of those two options.”

Hossa called it a disk problem that made his right foot numb when he skated.

“I don’t know if I was too effective, just limping on the ice,” Hossa said. “I didn’t have as much confidence because everyone was much faster. I wasn’t confident in doing the things I usually do. But the coaches told me to play my game defensively, so I just tried to stick with it.”

Hossa said winning the Stanley Cup made it all worth it.

“I know the health is so important,” he said. “Even when you retire you want to live a healthy life, but in these four years we have two Cups, which is amazing.”

Hossa was hardly the only Hawk to play hurt. Bryan Bickell had a sprained right knee and Andrew Shaw a broken rib, while Michal Handzus had so many injuries he didn’t want to talk about any of them.

“Handzus played every game taking care of how many different ways to get him out there — one, two or three issues,” said Hawks coach Joel Quenneville. “It was special knowing he was still playing great. It didn’t change how he played.

“Everybody was banged up at a different level.”

Compliance buyouts:Hawks general manager Stan Bowman said he decided to use both of his compliance buyouts this summer #151; on defenseman Steve Montador and forward Rostislav Olesz.Both players must clear waivers before they are bought out.While the players will get what they are owed, this will save the Hawks $5.85 million against the salary cap. Montador had two years left on his contract that was worth $2.75 million a season, while Olesz had one year left at $3.1 million.#147;I suppose that#146;s one way to look at it,#148; Bowman said regarding the flexibility the buyouts give him. #147;Certainly both players that we#146;re going to be buying out, we#146;ve had young players emerge over the last couple years, which is a good thing when you look at where we were a couple years ago, when we brought Montador and Olesz in. We didn#146;t even have (Brandon) Saad or (Andrew) Shaw. We didn#146;t have (Adam) Clendening. I wish them well. They#146;re going to have a chance now to move on to continue their careers somewhere else.#148;Bowman said there was no consideration given to buying out Marian Hossa, who still has eight years left on the 12-year, $63.3 million contact he signed in 2009.The Hawks would face stiff penalties if Hossa were to retire early.#147;No, that doesn#146;t concern me at all,#148; Bowman said. #147;He#146;s the kind of guy that I have a lot of confidence and faith in and he#146;s looking to play hockey. He#146;s not looking to retire, so that#146;s not something that#146;s a concern to us at all.#148;Bickell update:Unrestricted free agent Bryan Bickell sounded more confident than ever that he would be staying in Chicago.Bickell said he loves playing here and would consider a hometown discount to stay.#147;We#146;re going to do whatever it takes to keep me here,#148; Bickell said. #147;I enjoy the city and feel it#146;s a second home to me. I know there have been talks between my agent and Stan (Bowman) and it#146;s out of my hands now.#147;You#146;ve got to do what makes you happy. I know there are a lot of good teams around this league and a lot of teams where you won#146;t have as much fun as you would here. This is a great city, I enjoy it here and I got drafted here. This is a great team. We#146;ve won two Cups here and we#146;re going to win many more.#148;Restricted free-agent defenseman Nick Leddy said he also wants to stay.#147;This city is unbelievable and the fan base is incredible,#148; Leddy said. #147;I#146;d like to stay.#148;Bowman isn#146;t concerned that there#146;s a team out which might give Leddy an offer sheet.#147;That is not controlled by us,#148; Bowman said. #147;We can guess at it. I know that we want to bring Nick back. I#146;ve talked to his agent. He wants to stay here and I expect to get a contract done with him. So, we#146;re not letting Nick go. We#146;re going to keep him here and I#146;m not concerned about offer-sheets.#148;Trade rumor:There was an ESPN.com report Thursday that claimed the Hawks were shopping center Dave Bolland before Sunday#146;s draft.#147;I#146;d love to be back here next year, but whatever happen happens,#148; Bolland said. #147;It#146;s the NHL, and trades happen, but I#146;d love to be back here. I love Chicago. Things like this go around the league, that#146;s the game, that#146;s what happens.#148;