Bruins' Horton Should Be Okay Next Season: GM Peter Chiarelli said that he expects Nathan Horton (concussion) to be ready for the 2012-13 season, the Boston Globe reports. (Updated 04/11/2012)
Injury Report
Concussion - (Updated - 2/10/12)
Fantasy Analysis
Nathan Horton, who hasn't played since suffering a concussion on Jan. 22, will be shut down for the playoffs, but Chiarelli's comments imply that Horton's situation is closer to that of Patrice Bergeron (who made a successful comeback from his concussion woes) than that of Marc Savard, whose career may be done. (Updated 04/11/2012).
Horton, whose postseason was cut short by a nasty concussion, was also dealing with a shoulder injury throughout the playoffs. He's expected back at full strength next season and is slated to once again skate on the B's top line. While his 26 goals and 53 points in 80 games weren't eye-popping, he was one of the Bruins' most dangerous forwards all season long, while also recording a plus-29 rating. Horton has a terrific blend of size and skill and whatever character drive/questions he had previously attached to him as a Panther seem to have evaporated. A 30-goal season while being a key member of a balanced attack in Boston seems to be a reasonable expectation for Horton in 2011-12, assuming he's past the head injury. (Updated 10/4/11)