Blackhawks Could Lose Dave Bolland For Four Months

The Blackhawks have had to deal with some injuries already this season as the team still awaits for Marian Hossa to make his debut -- which they hope will be December 1 -- Adam Burish hasn't played a game this season, and Jonathan Toews recently had to miss some time due to a concussion.  And those are just some of the dings and dents they've suffered through so far.

Center Dave Bolland had also missed the last three games because of a bad back, and it's going to be a lot more games before the versatile center returns to the lineup.  That's because Bolland had back surgery on Tuesday at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and it could keep him out for four months.

"It was something he was dealing with throughout most of last year," Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "I don't think he was comfortable at the start of (this season)."

Bolland, 23, has two goals and four assists in 13 games and is second among Hawks forwards in ice time, averaging 19 minutes 23 seconds per game. The fifth-year player also often drew the defensive assignment against opponents' top players and saw time on the power play and penalty killing units.

"Bolland is useful in so many ways," Quenneville said. "He gets a lot of quality minutes."

Dr. Michael Terry, who performed the surgery, said that Bolland should miss between 12-16 weeks.  So at the very least, he should be back in time for the playoffs.  Unfortunately I think being without Bolland for so long could have a direct impact on the Blackhawks and their playoff hopes.

It's not that I think the Hawks won't make the playoffs without him, they will, but it does hurt their chances of winning the division or getting home-ice throughout the Stanley Cup.  Some people may think this injury isn't that big of a deal because even though Bolland is a nice player, he's not a superstar or anything.

I tend to agree more with Sam from 2nd City Hockey.  I think Bolland is a very valuable player to the team, and one who played a very large role in Martin Havlat's season last year.  After all, it wasn't until Havlat joined Bolland's line along with Andrew Ladd before he took off last season.

He could have had the same kind of impact with Marian Hossa, who is good enough not to need a great center, but could be amazing with one.