Nathan Horton

At 38 years old, Nathan Horton has this physical status:

Nathan Russell Horton (born May 29, 1985) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is currently under contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL).

He won the Stanley Cup in 2011 with the Boston Bruins.

During his career, Horton has also played for the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Florida Panthers. Horton has not played in an NHL game since April 2014 due to a back injury.

Though he is not officially retired, the surgery required to fix Horton's back would end his career.

Personal life

Horton married Canadian model Tammy Plante, the great-niece of NHL goaltending great Jacques Plante, on July 7, 2007. They have three sons together.

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Playing career

Horton grew up in Dunnville, Ontario, and spent a large portion of his Minor Peewee's OMHA South Central AAA League with the Toronto Red Wings before moving to the Greater Toronto Hockey League to play in the Greater Toronto Hockey League. He left the Red Wings to play for the Ontario Hockey Association's Golden Horseshoe League at age 13. Horton spent a significant portion of his time with Welland, along with Dan Girardi, Daniel Paille (a future Bruins teammate) and Andre Deveaux.

Horton first appeared in junior hockey for the Thorold Blackhawks. In 41 games with Thorold, he scored 16 goals and 31 assists. A 16-year-old Horton said that if he had been drafted first overall by the Mississauga Ice Dogs, he would not report to the team until the 2001 Ontario Hockey League Draft. In the Oshawa Generals' draft, he was instead ranked second overall. In 64 games for the Generals as a rookie in the OHL, Horton scored 31 goals and 36 assists. Horton would have scored 64 goals and 71 assists in two seasons with Oshawa.

Horton missed 13 games out of 22, but he ended up scoring 9 goals with 18 points during the 2002–03 season. In December, Horton was admitted to the Canadian national junior team's selection camp, but it was one of the first cuts. With 33 goals and 35 assists in 54 games, he marked his last season in Oshawa.

Horton, together with Patrick O'Sullivan and Kevin Klein, was regarded as a top prospect from the OHL in January 2002. By USA Today, Horton was described as "an almost certain-fire top-five pick" eleven months later in December. Horton was regarded as a top-five North American prospect by the NHL Central Scout Bureau midway through the 2002-2003 season. Scouts applauded Horton, who was regarded as a "power forward" by scouting, to John LeClair, who is considered one of the best power forwards in the NHL. However, Horton said he liked himself more like Jeremy Roenick or Peter Forsberg, both of whom were quicker than LeClair.

The Florida Panthers started with the first overall pick, but then sold it and the 73rd pick (used to select Daniel Carcillo) to the Pittsburgh Penguins for the third pick (Horton), the 55th pick (Stefan Meyer) and Mikael Samuelsson. Before him, goaltender Marc-André Fleury (Pittsburgh) and centre Eric Staal (Carolina) were chosen.

Horton made his Panther debut on October 6, 2003. After his signing, Panthers head coach Mike Keenan compared Horton to future New York Rangers Hall of Famer Mark Messier.

Horton scored his first point of career against the Minnesota Wild on October 24, 2004, with an assist on an Ivan Novosev goal. Horton scored his first goal against the San Jose Sharks on November 1 on November 1 in his first career appearance. Horton scored his second goal in as many games against the Los Angeles Kings in the Panthers' next game. Horton scored against Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Jeff Hackett on January 9, 2004, making him the first rookie in NHL history to score on a penalty shot. Jordan Staal, a rookie with the Penguins, matched the feat and defeated Horton as the youngest player to score on October 22, 2006; Staal was 183 days younger than Horton when he scored. Horton had torn rotator cuff and labrum four days after his penalty shot goal, which could have ended his season. He was third on the Panthers with ten goals at the time. Horton was told he could recover naturally and didn't need surgery on his shoulder following an examination by surgeon Tony Miniaci, and did not need surgery on his shoulder. In one of his first games against the Tampa Bay Lightning, he returned to the Panthers in early March and scored in one of his first games back against the Tampa Bay Lightning. However, his shoulder pains remained, and it was decided that surgery was ultimately required. Horton's rookie season ended with 14 goals and 8 assists in 55 games.

The 2004–05 NHL season came to an end, prompting Horton and other players to join other franchises. Horton eventually signed with the San Antonio Rampage, the Panthers' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, after a controversies erupted over whether junior-hockey-eligible players such as Horton were obligated to return to their junior teams. Despite not signing with the Rampage until October 29, Horton continued to participate in their training camp. Horton scored his first goal of the season seven minutes into his second AHL game. On a Gregory Campbell goal, he scored his first AHL assist on a career, including his first AHL appearance. Horton scored both of the Rampage's goals against the Houston Aeros on December 3, 2004, to help the team beat the team in overtime.

Horton did not qualify for the Canadian national junior team for the second straight season. Brent Burns, the Houston Aeros defenceman, and George Burns were the only two players not allowed to play for the team. Horton did not play for Team Canada days before the team's decision, he sustained another shoulder injury that may have contributed to the Panthers' decision. In December, Horton sustained the shoulder injury in a fight and missed 14 games. He was told that he'd have to have surgery once more. Horton scored five goals and four assists in 21 San Antonio games.

Horton replied to a question about his shoulders by saying, "I feel better." "I feel stronger, not bigger." Horton scored the first goal for the Panthers in the season opener against the Atlanta Thrashers. Horton was tied for the team's top goal leader through the first two games of the season. He was put on injured reserve on November 8, 2005, owing to a knee injury. He was activated on December 1 and scored in his first game back against the Washington Capitals to help the Panthers beat 3–2. In the Panthers' next game, Horton scored two goals against the Chicago Blackhawks, bringing his season total to ten in 17 games. Horton wore his first hat-trick against the Nashville Predators on December 13, 2006, and he said after the game, "It's a very nice feeling." I felt like there were no one around me. I just tried to get it to the net, and it came right back every time." Despite missing ten games due to injuries, Horton was tied for the team's highest goals with 16 after 38 games. The Panthers defeated Washington 4–3 on January 9, with Horton and Joe Nieuwendyk scoring a goal in the shootout to help the Panthers win 4–3. Horton was promoted to the Panthers' first line two days after his shootout goal. Despite his promotion to the first line, Horton's name was mentioned in an upcoming trade with the Vancouver Canucks, but nothing came up, but nothing came. Horton scored two goals, one on a revival, and the other on a win over the Ottawa Senators, "it just popped right out to me." It was a long time for me to set goals. I was lucky tonight and I hope they keep going into." Horton started playing in penalty kill situations in March for the first time in his career. Horton scored the Panthers' only goal of the season against the Lightning, his 27th goal of the season. Horton played in 71 games, scoring 28 goals and adding 19 assists.

Horton's rookie deal came to an end during the 2005-06 season. He was re-signed by Florida on July 12, 2006, to a one-year, $1.1 million deal. Horton scored his first goal of the season against the Boston Bruins to help the Panthers win 8–3. In a 5–2 loss to the Washington Capitals on October 18, he scored his third goal of the season, who had not lost to in regulation since the 2004–05 season. Horton was greeted with a second-period penalty against Atlanta, and head coach Jacques Martin demoted him to the fourth line in an attempt to give a warning to Horton. Horton was promoted to the first line by the Finnish players Olli Jokinen and Ville Peltonen, who jokingly gave Horton the nickname "Nathan Hortonen" in an effort to make his name Finnish. Horton scored all goals against the Montreal Canadiens on November 16, 2004. On February 17, Horton scored the game-winning goal for Florida, 29 seconds into overtime against Tampa Bay.

Horton's name was first introduced in trade offers for the second straight season. Despite Horton's dissatisfaction with playing in Florida, Canadian sports writer Bruce Garrioch called it "doubtful" that Horton would be moved. Horton scored two goals against Tampa Bay on March 28, taking his season total for goals against the Lightning up to eight. Horton had one goal against Tampa Bay in the 2006–07 season, making it nine goals and three assists. Horton's was also his season-high 31st goal on the season. In 82 games, he had 31 goals and 31 assists.

On June 21, 2007, Horton rejoined the Panthers, ending his six-year, US$24 million deal. Despite recent rumors, he would not be interested in doing so. Horton's three goals and three assists in seven games for the Panthers to begin the 2007-08 NHL season, during which he had a four-game point streak. In a 2–1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on November 18, Horton had his only goal for the Panthers. On November 28, Horton, along with teammates Olli Jokinen, Kamil Kreps, and Stephen Weiss helped Florida beat the Washington Capitals on November 28. Horton scored two goals in a game against the Atlanta Thrashers on December 28 for the first time since March 2007. Against the New York Islanders, Horton and his linemate David Booth scored three goals, two of which Horton scored two. Horton had four assists in the Panthers' 5–3 victory over the Ottawa Senators on January 22, 2008, which was a career-high. In a shootout, Horton scored against Vancouver Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo, helping the Panthers win 4–3, their first victory over Vancouver since 1999. After Richard Zednek sustained a neck injury in which his external carotid artery was cut by a skate, Horton scored a goal against the Washington Capitals to help Florida win 4–2 in the game. On March 5, Horton scored to give the Panthers a 1–0 win over overtime against the Boston Bruins. Horton scored again in overtime with 23 seconds remaining on March 9, earning the Miami Herald to call him the "King of Overtime." Horton scored his 100th goal in career on April 5.

Peter DeBoer, the Panthers' head coach who first saw Horton play at seven years old, said about his hopes for Horton: "If I'm looking for guys to do more, he wouldn't be at the top of the list." I'd be content with Nathan if he gave us 30-plus. "I see a group of guys under him that could make a lot more leaps than what I need out of Nathan Horton's goal-wise." Before the season, Horton was shifted from right wing to center. Horton said, "It's not as simple as wing" after playing a few games at center. You can play wing, and all you have to worry about is getting the puck and shooting it. You have more responsibilities at center." Horton played in his 300th game against the Nashville Predators on November 1, but didn't make it to a single point. Horton sustained a deep leg injury after being stepped on by a skate on November 26, causing him to have a deep cut in his leg. Horton had six goals and seven assists when he sustained the injury. The Ottawa Sun announced in early December that the Panthers may have been considering trade Horton after he had reportedly been unhappy playing for the team. After missing eight games, Horton returned to the lineup on December 17. "I'm excited to play" after the game, Horton said. It's kind of a different Panthers team than the ones before. It's been a matter of a month. Things are going well, and everybody is finally buying into what Pete has been telling us all year. Horton had three assists on the Panthers' 4–3 victory over Tampa Bay on January 17, aideing the Panthers' victory over Tampa Bay. Horton's name appeared in trade rumors for the second time during the season, this time with the Chicago Blackhawks. Horton sustained a finger injury in early March that required him to have surgery. On March 23, he returned to the lineup after helping with the Panthers' loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. In 67 games, Horton had 22 goals and 23 assists.

In 2010, Horton was traded to the Boston Bruins in exchange for Dennis Wideman, the Bruins' first-round pick (15th overall) and a third-round pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. In the first 12 games of the season, he got off to a good start in his first season in Boston, with seven goals and six assists, including a six-game point streak. He came in second on goals and fourth in assists.

Horton scored a game-winning overtime goal for the Bruins in both games five and seven to help the Bruins beat the Montreal Canadiens in the first round of the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs. In Eastern Conference Finals Game 7, the game's lone goal, the Bruins advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals, a third period goal by Horton against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Horton was seriously injured in game three of the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals, after being late struck by Vancouver Canucks defenceman Aaron Rome. Rome received a five-minute major for meddling in the game and misconduct. Horton was unresponsive when he was taken out on a stretcher and into an ambulance. In the ambulance, he was circulating all of his extremities. He was later diagnosed with a serious concussion and missed the remainder of the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals. This was arguably the turning point in the series, with the Bruins winning four of the next five games and scoring 21 of the next 25 goals after the hit. Rome was suspended for four games. Despite Horton's absence in the remainder of the finals, the Bruins were able to hoist the Stanley Cup in Vancouver on June 15 after the Bruins defeated Game 7.

Horton sustained another concussion on January 22, 2012, this time from Philadelphia Flyers forward Tom Sestito. Horton will not return for the remainder of the season or the playoffs. Nathan Horton did not play for another team during the 2012–13 NHL lockout and made his 2013 season debut for the Bruins against the New York Rangers on January 19, 2013.

Horton's agents informed Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli that he would not be re-signing with Boston on the day of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.

Horton signed a seven-year free agent deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets on July 5, 2013. However, off-season shoulder surgery would sideline Horton until January 2, 2014, when he made his Blue Jackets debut and scored the game-winning goal in a 2–0 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes.

Horton scored a goal during the first period of a 2014 match against the Dallas Stars, putting the Blue Jackets up 1-0. Rich Peverley, the Dallas Stars' center, collapsed on the bench only a few weeks after. As a result, play was suspended and restarted from the start, with the Blue Jackets leading 1-0 on April 9, 2014. However, Horton was forced to miss the game due to an injury. Horton's goal in the initial game was the only stat that remained from that game, making Horton the only player since 1989-90 to score in a game in which he did not participate.

Horton suffered from a degenerative back injury of the lumbar region in October 2014, which hampered his 2014–15 season and threatened to end his career.

Horton was traded by the Blue Jackets to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for David Clarkson on February 26, 2015, with Horton on the long-term injured list and no sign of returning. The trade enabled the Maple Leafs to get rid of Clarkson's unfavorable deal, while Horton's presence on the long-term injury list ensured that Toronto will no longer have to divide their paychecks against the salary cap. Horton did not play a single game for the Leafs; he missed every single physical before his team's season.

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