Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Horton aims to be ready for Blue Jackets training camp

Columbus Blue Jackets v San Jose Sharks

SAN JOSE, CA - FEBRUARY 7: Nathan Horton #8 of the Columbus Blue Jackets during a break in play against the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center on February 7, 2014 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Rocky Widner/Getty Image)

Getty Images

At best, you could grade Nathan Horton’s injury-ravaged first season with the Columbus Blue Jackets as “incomplete.” There’s some question about his chances of entering 2014-15 at 100 percent, yet the Columbus Dispatch’s Aaron Portzline provided an optimistic update in that regard on Sunday.

Portzline believes that Horton could very well enter training camp at full strength:

Here’s one thing that should be clear: the Blue Jackets shouldn’t rush the 29-year-old back before he’s ready.

That sounds simple, yet it would be understandable if Columbus is getting antsy to get more value out of the power forward. He underwent offseason shoulder surgery in 2013 that delayed his Blue Jackets debut until Jan. 2 and then required abdominal surgery that kept him from aiding the franchise in a rare postseason appearance.

As disappointing as his 19 points in 36 games might look, It almost seems like an accomplishment that he played that many games in the first place.

Horton is about to enter the second season of a seven-year, $37.1 million deal that carries a $5.3 million cap hit.

Follow James O’Brien @cyclelikesedins