page_title: Nathan Horton
section_title: Florida Panthers
hierarchical_section_title: Nathan Horton / Playing career / Florida Panthers
caption_attribution_description: Ville Peltonen and Nathan Horton during the 2008-09 NHL season
context_page_description: Nathan Russell Horton is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is currently under contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League. He won the Stanley Cup in 2011 with the Boston Bruins. During his career, Horton has also played for the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Florida Panthers.
  Horton has not played in an NHL game since April 2014 due to a back injury. Though he is not officially retired, the surgery required to fix Horton's back would end his career.
context_section_description: Horton signed with the Panthers on October 6, 2003. After his signing, Panthers head coach Mike Keenan compared Horton to future New York Rangers Hall of Famer Mark Messier.
  Against the Minnesota Wild on October 24, Horton recorded his first career point with an assist on an Ivan Novoseltsev goal. Horton recorded his first career goal on November 1 against the San Jose Sharks. In the next game for the Panthers, against the Los Angeles Kings, Horton scored his second goal in as many games. On January 9, 2004, Horton became the first rookie in NHL history to record a goal on a penalty shot, scoring against Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Jeff Hackett. Three seasons later, on October 22, 2006, Penguins rookie Jordan Staal matched the feat and surpassed Horton as the youngest player to score; Staal was 183 days younger than Horton was when he scored. Four days after his penalty shot goal, Horton suffered a torn rotator cuff and labrum which could potentially have ended his season. At the time, he was third on the Panthers with ten goals. Following an examination by surgeon Tony Miniaci, Horton was told he could rehabilitate naturally and did not require surgery on his shoulder. He returned to the Panthers in early March and scored in one of his first games back against the Tampa Bay Lightning. However, his shoulder troubles continued and it was determined that surgery was ultimately required. Horton ended his rookie campaign with 14 goals and 8 assists in 55 games.
  The 2004–05 NHL season ended up being locked out which forced Horton and other players to sign with other teams. Horton eventually signed with the Panthers' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage, after a controversy ensued as to whether junior-hockey-eligible players such as Horton were obligated to return to their junior teams. Despite not signing with the Rampage until October 29, Horton still participated in their training camp. Seven minutes into his second AHL game, Horton scored his first goal of the season. He recorded his first 
  career AHL assist on a Gregory Campbell goal. On December 3, 2004, against the Houston Aeros, Horton scored both of the Rampage's goals to help the team win in overtime. 
  For the second straight season, the Panthers did not allow Horton to play for the Canadian national junior team. He and Houston Aeros defenceman Brent Burns were the only two players not allowed to play for the team. Days before the announcement Horton would not play for Team Canada, he suffered another shoulder injury which allegedly played into the Panthers' decision. Horton suffered the shoulder injury in a fight in December and missed 14 games. He was informed he would again have to undergo surgery. In 21 games for San Antonio, Horton scored five goals and recorded four assists.
  Entering the 2005–06 season, Horton stated in response to a question about his shoulders: "I feel better. I feel stronger, bigger." In the season opener against the Atlanta Thrashers, Horton scored the first goal for the Panthers. Through the first games of the season, Horton was tied for the team lead in goals. On November 8, 2005, he was placed on injured reserve because of a knee injury. He was activated on December 1 and scored in his first game back against the Washington Capitals to help the Panthers win 3–2. Horton added two goals against the Chicago Blackhawks in the Panthers' next game to bring his season total to 10 in 17 games. Against the Nashville Predators on December 13, Horton recorded his first career hat-trick and stated after the game: "It's a pretty nice feeling. I felt like there was no one on me. I just tried to get it to the net and it went in every time." Despite missing ten games to injury, Horton was tied with teammate Olli Jokinen for the team lead in goals with 16 after 38 games. Against Washington on January 9, Horton and Joe Nieuwendyk scored a goal in the shootout to help the Panthers win 4–3. Two days after his shootout goal, Horton was promoted to the Panthers' first line. Despite his promotion to the first line, Horton's name w
caption: Horton standing next to teammate Ville Peltonen in 2009
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