Could Nathan Horton Return For The Start Of The Season?

Jun 22, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks center

(36) passes the puck away from Boston Bruins right wing

(18) during the first period in game five of the 2013 Stanley Cup Final at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports

Nathan Horton underwent successful shoulder surgery Wednesday, July 17th. The surgery took place in Boston at the hands of Dr. Jon Warner. The timetable for his return to the ice, and how long he will have to rehab his surgically repaired shoulder range anywhere from four to six months by most accounts. Which would put his debut in a Blue Jackets sweater between the middle of November to the middle of January. Take a look at what Aaron Portzline of The Columbus Dispatch had to say on the matter over at bluejacketsxtra.dispatch.com.

Jarmo Kekalainen had this to say over at bluejackets.nhl.com

"“Nathan’s surgery went very well and he is expected to make a full recovery after completing his rehabilitation program”"

[BlueJackets.NHL.com]

May 14, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins goalie

(92) makes a save against Ottawa Senators defenseman

(65) during the first period in game one of the second round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the CONSOL Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

There have been a lot of motivational stories of professional athletes returning quickly from injuries in the last couple of years. Erik Karlsson had his Achilles sliced by a skate on February 13th, 2013 and everybody had him out for the rest of season. A four to six month estimate on his return. Karlsson returned to the lineup April 25th, 2013. Ten weeks to the day of when the injury occurred. TEN WEEKS after his Achilles was lacerated, he returned to the ice in the greatest professional hockey league known to man the NHL.

Then there is the story of Derrick Rose, Rose had surgery May 12th, 2012 for a torn ACL. Recovery time for his return was slated at eight to twelve months. Rose never played a minute for the Bulls in the 2012-2013 NBA season. He is set to make his return at the end of October when the NBA season ratchets up again. Almost nineteen months after his surgery.

Can we expect to see Horton don a Union Blue Jersey in October for the Columbus Blue Jackets? Not even three months after having shoulder surgery? I say no, and I don’t think it would be in the best interest of Horton or the Blue Jackets to have that happen. Nathan is a beast of a man and he plays the game that way too. He throws his body around, and likes to play a physical game, and that shoulder needs the appropriate time to heal before he goes and rams it into opposing players.

The Blue Jackets invested a lot of money and a lot of years into Mr. Horton, to the sum of 7 years and $37.1 million. I would like to see him wear a Blue Jackets sweater for many years to come and do it to the tune of close to 80 games a year. I love his fire and if four months is what he needs I can wait until November to see him fly around that ice and put the biscuit in the basket. Take all the time you need Nathan, there are a lot of Blue Jacket fans that are waiting to jump on those broad shoulders of yours and take them to the playoffs.