Nathan Horton (shoulder) skated on Wednesday for the first time since the summer. That follows an encouraging MRI on his surgically repaired shoulder. "The doctors here looked at it and it looks really good," Horton said. "It looks like we're on track still and that's the good news that we wanted. I can't read the thing, but you can see that it's healing or healed and I think they got the news that they wanted." He is about a month to month and a half away from returning on his current track.

Nathan Horton (shoulder) is still on track to make his season debut in December or January. "It's been a slow process, just I like I knew it would be coming in [that] it would take a long time," Horton said. "Every day I do my rehab. It's not as quick as I'd like. But I want to come back 100 percent so I don't ever have a problem with it ever again." Horton signed a seven-year/$37.1 million contract with Columbus over the summer. Without him, the Blue Jackets have ranked in the bottom third of the NHL in goals per game so far.

The Columbus Blue Jackets are reluctant to provide a timetable for Nathan Horton's (shoulder surgery) return. They will simply wait until they believe Horton is 100% before he makes his Blue Jackets debut. That being said, Horton is tentatively expected to return in December or early January.

Nathan Horton is "doing very well" in his recovery from shoulder surgery. "He's doing very well, recovering, doing his rehab," GM Jarmo Kekalainen said. "His arm's not in a sling anymore. He was at a golf tournament (not playing) yesterday, and in good spirits. So that's a good sign. We're going to be very patient and follow instructions given by the doctors. But nothing's changed in terms of the timeline. If it heals 100 percent before we expect it, that would be a bonus and it would be nice. But we're not going to expect that." He's expected to return in December or January.

Nathan Horton's shoulder surgery was a success. "Nathan's surgery went very well and he is expected to make a full recovery after completing his rehabilitation program," said Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen. "Since Nathan joined the Blue Jackets, our medical team from OhioHealth and team training staff have worked closely with Dr. Warner and will be actively engaged with Nathan throughout the rehabilitation process." Horton could be out until January as a result of this injury.

Nathan Horton will undergo shoulder surgery next week. Horton will miss four-to-six months as a result. He's a huge risk going into standard league drafts, given his injury and the fact that he'll have to adjust to a new team once he does return.

Coach Todd Richards thinks that Nathan Horton and Marian Gaborik will not be together on the same line once Horton returns from shoulder surgery in December. Richards likes the idea of splitting up his top two forwards, a problem made easier as both are right wingers. Artem Anisimov will likely center Gaborik on the top line while Brandon Dubinsky should man the middle alongside Horton with either R.J. Umberger or Cam Atkinson on the left side. The Blue Jackets look to have a lot more firepower with the addition of Horton and hopefully it will translate into a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Signing Nathan Horton was the Blue Jackets' top priority this season. Throwing long-term security, seven years, and some big money, $37.1 million, will always help your cause. "We got our guy," Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said. "He was the No. 1 guy on our list, and we got him. "He scores goals the right way, in the hard areas, the way they're scored in the league now. And he scores them in the big games. He's been a very good player for Boston in their playoff runs. He's just coming into his prime as a hockey player."

Nathan Horton is thankful for the time he spent with the Bruins. Horton inked a seven-year deal with the Blue Jackets on Day 1 of free agency. "I'm thankful for my opportunity in Boston, very thankful," said Horton. "I met a lot of great people. I had great teammates. I had a great time there. I just think from being in a city, it's a great opportunity for me and my family to be in a house and be a little more quiet. That's what I was looking for."

Nathan Horton will undergo shoulder surgery in the summer and will be lost to the Columbus Blue Jackets until December. Horton signed on with the Blue Jackets today and will receive $30 million in the first five seasons of his seven year/$37.1 million deal. A bold move by the Blue Jackets to give Horton the terms that he received but obviously Columbus doctors think he will be fine.