Nathan Horton scored a power-play goal in Columbus' 2-0 win against Phoenix Thursday night. Horton, who signed a seven-year, $37.1 million contract last summer but missed the first 40 games following shoulder surgery, was parked just outside the crease when he gathered in a James Wisniewski shot and stuffed it past Phoenix goalie Mike Smith at 15:51 for a power-play goal. Horton had two shots on goal, three hits and 2:58 power-play time in his return. If he happens to be a free agent in your league, then he's worth grabbing. R.J Umberger scored the other goal for the Blue Jackets.

Nathan Horton (shoulder) will be in the Columbus Blue Jackets' lineup on Thursday. It will be his first game with the Blue Jackets since signing a seven-year, $37.1 million contract over the summer. If you've been holding onto him, go ahead and activate him. If he happens to be a free agent in your league, then he's worth grabbing, even when you factor in the risk of him being rusty after missing half a season.

Nathan Horton (shoulder) will probably make his Columbus Blue Jackets debut on Thursday. Horton took part in Wednesday's optional skate. "It's not 100 percent, but there is a very good chance he will play," Blue Jackets coach Todd Richards. "It may not happen, but there is a really good chance." If he doesn't end up playing Thursday, it won't be much longer before he does make his debut, so if you've been stashing him away all season, get ready to activate him.

Nathan Horton (shoulder) took some contact during Monday's practice. "It didn't hurt to get hit," Horton said. "I'm not going to get hit much harder than that in a game. Those were pretty good runs. It makes me feel really good, actually. It tells me I'm closer than I thought I was." Horton might end up playing during Columbus' upcoming four-game road trip. That stint starts Tuesday night and will end with a game on Monday.

Nathan Horton (shoulder) is on track to make his Columbus debut sometime in early January. "I don't know when it's going to happen," coach Todd Richards said. "But I'll tell you this: He's prepared. He watches our games, even though he's not playing. He has a pretty good idea of what we want to do. There's a level of professionalism there. You can tell he's been somewhere (with a winning culture)." Horton will need some time to get back up to game speed once he makes his long-awaited return to action. When he does play it might be alongside Ryan Johansen and Nick Foligno or R.J. Umberger.

Nathan Horton (shoulder) was allowed to partake in some contact drills in practice on Friday. Horton is getting ever so close to returning to action as he has been out all season after undergoing off-season shoulder surgery. He is expected to make his Columbus debut after the Christmas break. "I just kind of go as my soreness tells me," Horton said. "But I did more drills than I usually do. Little bit of bumping, but nothing too much. But it was nice to actually be in that situation where you could get bumped. I had fun. It wasn't physical, but it's more than I've done." Don't expect a lot from Horton this season as it's tough to return in the middle of a season.

Nathan Horton (shoulder) isn't expected to return before the NHL's Christmas break. "So we're getting close to (days rather than weeks)," said coach Todd Richards. "It's tough to narrow down a specific date, but I can pretty confidently tell you that it won't be before Christmas." Horton is still waiting to make his Columbus debut following shoulder surgery that he underwent in the summer.

Nathan Horton (shoulder) is looking to start contact drills in a couple of weeks. Horton inked a seven year deal with Columbus in the off-season and immediately underwent shoulder surgery. Horton stated that the only player he knew who had undergone the same type of surgery is Brian McGrattan and he contacted the Flames enforcer who informed him that if Horton took the proper time to recover from the surgery, it would work permanently. Horton should be back barring any setbacks within a month. Stay tuned.

Four months after getting shoulder surgery, Nathan Horton practiced with his new Columbus Blue Jackets teammates for the first time on Sunday. Granted, Horton wore a no-contact jersey, so it wasn't a full-on scrimmage for the 28-year-old winger. It's still a good sign for a Blue Jackets offense that ranks 23rd in the NHL with 2.39 goals per game. The former Boston Bruins forward is shooting for a mid-December return.

Nathan Horton (shoulder) isn't close to being ready and there's still no timetable for his return. He is traveling with his teammates, but he still feels pain when he moves his arm and he doesn't have his full range of motion back after off-season shoulder surgery. Horton may not be available until January.