Good news for the Boston Bruins on Tuesday as general Peter Chiarelli announced that forward Nathan Horton has been cleared for contact by the team's medical staff and could be ready for the start of training camp.
Horton missed most of the second half of the 2011-12 season, as well as the Bruins opening round playoff loss to the Washington Capitals, after suffering another concussion in a game against the Philadelphia Flyers in late January. For Horton it was the second one he suffered in less than a year after he was knocked out of the Stanley Cup Final the previous season when he was hit by Aaron Rome of the Vancouver Canucks.
Horton appeared in just 46 games for the Bruins this past season but still scored 17 goals to go with 15 assists. He still has one year remaining on his current contract that will count $4 million against the salary cap this upcoming season.
His most recent concussion occurred back on January 22 in a game against the Philadelphia Flyers when he was hit by Tom Sestito.
Horton has spent two years with the Bruins after he was acquired from the Florida Panthers, along with Gregory Campbell, for Dennis Wideman and a first-round draft pick back in June of 2010. In 126 regular season games with the Bruins he's scored 43 goals and recorded 42 assists.
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