Horton ready to rebound in Boston

By Joe Haggerty
CSNNE.com

WILMINGTON, Mass. – Nathan Horton doesn't get weary of talking about how happy he is to be in Boston.

After six seasons spent establishing himself as a talented, strong winger in the Florida Panthers' organization, there were both questions and answers about the 25-year-old power forward.

Horton has all of the potential in the world given his strength, size and shot, and he produced -- at times -- with the Panthers.

Horton has one 30-goal season in his resume and had two seasons where he played each game that season, managed a plus-15 on teams that weren't exactly loaded, and finished with over 200 shots on goal. Watching Horton fool around with the puck during Captain's practices at Ristuccia Arena already reveals just stellar his hands are and just how dangerous his shot can be.

Horton also has a keen understanding of the opportunity he was given when Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli traded Dennis Wideman to Boston for Horton, and he knows it's time to pick the slack.

"You look around and I think there's obviously going to be high expectations on everyone," said Horton. "It's a great team, a great bunch of guys, and a lot of good hockey players. I think it's great to have high expectations and I think it's going to be a fun year."

Dennis Seidenberg saw it all last year while playing on the Panthers with Horton, and he knows the 6-foot-2, 201-pounder will bring plenty to the table amid a rabid hockey atmosphere in Boston.

"I think he'll flourish a lot. Florida can definitely get old when you're there for seven years and you want to be playing in a hockey city," said Seidenberg, who was dealt to Boston at the trade deadline. "I think being here is going to energize him and he'll be playing great here."

What makes Horton such a tough customer on offense?

"His creativity and his smooth skating," said Seidenberg. "He's one of those guys that doesn't even look like he's moving because he's such a smooth skater. It's an unbelievable stride if you look at him skating. Then he's got the shot and the ability to be creative."

The B's defenseman had his own hockey outhouse-to-penthouse feeling when he was traded from the Panthers to Bruins, and he immediately took to the B's system. Seidenberg played some of the best hockey of his career once he ditched the Panthers, and he hasn't looked back.

"It was a lot of fun. Almost every game is on the national TV and every game is just about sold out. Everywhere we travel to the East are in hockey towns, so it's definitely a lot of fun being a part of it."

The danger would be if Horton again shows some of the warning signs that cropped up from time to time in Florida. The different coaching staffs, the non-traditional hockey crowds and the general malaise that goes along with hockey in Southern Florida contributed a pair of pedestrian seasons for Horton.

"It's been tough," said Horton. "Seven years is a long time. It's where you want to play the most, I think, is the playoffs. When you never get there, you don't taste it. It's tough, but I guess it's a new page, a new chapter, and I couldn't be more excited and thrilled to be here."

The then-Panthers winger finally reached a point where Florida had gotten to him, and he just couldn't thrive in a non-traditional hockey environment. Horton had also come to grips with the pressure associated with being the No. 3 overall pick in the draft, and that could help him greatly in coping with pressure in Boston.

"I grew up in Canada, so I know what that's like, but I'm excited," said the Ontario-born Horton. "It's going to be different, but it's going to be a lot of fun. There's pressure to perform, and I think that's what any player wants."

Horton knows this will be pivotal and is passing the time through stretching by mixing up the teams.

Joe Haggerty can be reached at jhaggerty@comcastsportsnet.com. Follow Joe on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HackswithHaggs