Columbus Blue Jackets Nathan Horton Undergoes Surgery

(photo: bluejackets.nhl.com)

Nathan Horton, forward for the Columbus Blue Jackets, will be sidelined for roughly six weeks after undergoing surgery to repair an abdominal injury, reported Blue Jackets General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen.

Horton signed a seven-year contract with the Blue Jackets this season after choosing not to renew his contract with the Boston Bruins. Over the course of his 10-year NHL career, he has recorded five 20-goal seasons, one 30-goal season, and five 50-point seasons. He won the Stanley Cup with Boston in 2011, where he scored the series-clinching goal in both the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals and the Conference Finals.

Horton was expected to be a big player for the Blue Jackets, once he recovered from a shoulder injury sustained in the 2012-2013 season. Though continued injuries have hindered his ice time, in 36 games he has scored five goals and tallied 14 assists.