Horton Re-Acquired After Trade with the Rangers

Ottawa, Ontario (CP) –

The Ottawa Senators made another huge blockbuster just days before the 2012-13 Regular Season begins by picking up former Senator star right winger Nathan Horton from the New York Rangers. Horton 27, played with the Senators 2009-2011 before being traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs for top end prospects. He tallied 94 points in two seasons (45G-49A), in 156 games, with a +20 rating.

“I know the Rangers were shopping me when they signed Mike (Richards) they were over the cap, but I have to say I’m pleasantly surprised I’m heading back to Ottawa. Right now Ottawa looks really strong and a cup contender, and this is where I’ve played my best hockey, and we’ll be playing deep into June, I feel.”, said Horton on the telephone press conference.

Rumors were first swirled by Pierre LeBrun the OTHL insider that Nathan Horton was going to be on the move and mentioned the Senators. With such a deep offense already many believed the Senators weren’t legitimately suitors, but obviously they were. The person who was really pushing this deal to bring Horton back to the Senators was owner Eugene Melynk. Melynk was a big supporter of Horton and was disappointed and many believe that deal ended up costing prior General Manager Alex Tougsiant’s job.

The Senators gave up sniper Stefan Noesen who plays for the Plymouth Whalers who is having a down year with 26 points in 26 games. Along with that the Senators traded a 2015 1st Round Draft Pick, along with a 2015 3rd round pick for Nathan Horton. That does seem like a very hefty price to pay but for a 27 year old skilled scoring forward, and signed to a long term contract for a reasonable salary makes him a solid pick up.

“We loved Stefan Noesen, our scouts think very highly of Stefan, but we wanted to add one more dimention to our offense, and with our right side in our system with Toffoli, Panik, Jensen, and Etem that we just picked up, we felt that Noesen would eventually be out of a spot on our club, and adding a impact guy like Horton we feel very good about this deal.”, said Burkholder.

The Senator’s have bolstered their offense this year and probably the deadliest offense in the OTHL today, and here is the project lineups.

Michael Ryder – Vincent Lecavalier – Marian Gaborik
Sam Gagner – Patrik Berglund – Kyle Okposo
Matt Read – Artem Anisimov – Nathan Horton
Andrew Cogliano – Vladamir Sobotka – Marcus Johansson

Alex Goliogoski – Toni Lydman
Robyn Regehr – Ron Hainsey
Nicklas Grossman – Radek Martinek

Tuukka Rask
Ray Emery

Scratches: Chuck Kobasew,