Chicago Blackhawks' Marian Hossa, Steve Montador on recovery path -NHL offseason Update
For Chicago Blackhawks, veteran players Marian Hossa and Steve Montador have always been an issue of concern due to their various injuries during the 2011-2012 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season, but fortunately, according to recent reports, both are on the path to a quick recovery.
With the NHL draft coming up, Chicago Blackhawks cannot help but think about their wounded players and now with the latest emergence of their well being, the franchise can focus on other things during the limited offseason.
Chicago Blackhawks’ general manager, Stan Bowman, was the one to make the announcement to the media regarding his players health.
"Marian continues to improve," Bowman said Tuesday afternoon while also talking about the upcoming draft. "Same with Steve Montador. They're both on the mend and started their summer training programs getting ready for the season."
"It's not something anyone can guarantee how people will progress but at this point we're very optimistic the way they're both feeling," Bowman added. "I suppose that could change but most likely it's full steam ahead. ... They're both doing well."
Steve Montador, a 32-year-old defenseman, was limited to just 52 regular season games in which he had 14 points (5 goals, 9 assists) and did not make an appearance in the playoffs due to head trauma.
Marian Hossa faced a similar injury after he was knocked out cold by Phoenix Coyotes’ Raffi Torres in Game 3 of the 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Western Conference Quarterfinals. Torres was handed down a 25-game suspension due to the seriousness of the hit which at one point, was termed to have ended Hossa’s career altogether.
The Slovakian right winger had an amazing regular season with 81 games played and putting up 77 points (29 goals, 48 assists) for a plus rating of 18.
Steve Montador still has another two good years left on his four-year, $11 million contract while Hossa will be with Chicago Blackhawks for many years to come as his 12-year, $63.3 million deal will expire at the end of the 2020-2021 season.
Updates on the health of both players can be expected later on in July after the free agency is done and over with.
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