Bowman: Hossa ‘feeling much better'

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NEWARK, N.J.Marian Hossa didnt sound so good when he talked to the media on May 3, a little more than two weeks after Raffi Torres head shot on him gave him a concussion. But Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman said his right wing is starting to feel more like himself.

Hossa is feeling much better, Bowman said Wednesday when he was in New York for a brief NHL general managers meeting. And while theres still plenty of offseason remaining, Bowman is hoping Hossa will be back on schedule.

Were sitting here in May, projecting out to training camp in September: I cant predict it, but Im very encouraged that hell be ready to participate by then, Bowman said. Hell get some rest here. I think hell be ready to go. He had a good (2011-12) season with that rest (last summer). Were hoping this summer will provide that, too.

Torres was suspended 25 games for that hit and recently looked to appeal that number. Gary Bettman said Wednesday that there will be a decision on Torres appeal in the not too distant future.

Yes, Hossa did benefit from the longer summer last season, both with production and lack of in-season injuries. The big difference this time is the big season-ending injury Hossa suffered in April, and the unpredictability of its recovery time.

So the Blackhawks will be encouraged by the reports theyre getting on Hossa. The forward spoke to the media earlier this month about his recovery, which wasnt going so well at the time. At the time Hossa was just starting to take walks again and had been sleeping a lot. Even then, however, he hoped the long summer would give him proper time to recover.

So far its small steps, but I believe Ill be ready, he said then. Its a long time until training camp and I have a long time to recover.

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