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Nathan Horton will not be a playoff hero for Blue Jackets
Nathan Horton played 35 games for the Columbus Blue Jackets this season, scoring just four goals after offseason surgery. But where Horton really matters is in the postseason, where he has 36 points in 43 career playoff games, all with the Boston Bruins – including six game-winning goals.
Alas, he won’t be able to that for the Jackets in the Eastern Conference playoffs this postseason.
Columbus announced on Friday that Horton had abdominal surgery in Philadelphia, and the rehab time is six weeks.
"It's a blow," Blue Jackets coach Todd Richards said. "The reason why it's a blow is the potential he has for us on the ice -- a goal-scorer, big and strong up and down his wing, and the other thing is, he's played in big games, he's played in big moments. One of the reasons an organization like this goes out and gets a Nathan Horton is because of his experience, the things he's been through.
"It's those times ... on the bench during games, in the room between periods where he could have had a big effect."
So the first season on Horton’s seven-year, $37.1 million contract is a wash, unless the Jackets go deep into the postseason. Although he scored a goal in their clinching game … well, about a month before it was finished.
