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Horton Still Hopeful To Resume His Career; Saturday News And Notes

May 30, 2015, 12:37 PM ET [590 Comments]
Mike Augello
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Nathan Horton is trying to remain optimistic about someday making his return to the NHL.

The 30-year-old was out of commission for the entire 2014-15 season due to chronic back problems and was traded from Columbus to Toronto for winger David Clarkson because the budget constrained Blue Jackets had no insurance to cover the remainder of the seven-year, $37.1 Million contract and due to the Leafs desire to escape Clarkson’s buyout proof contract.

Horton's back problems were expected to result spinal fusion surgery that would keep him on long term injured reserve for the balance of his deal and effectively end the Welland, ON native’s career, but he opted to not go through with the medical procedure because that would close the door on any chance of a comeback.

“Obviously, my back’s not great but I have my good days and some OK days. I’m just taking it easy. Eventually it’s going to go away -- I hope.” Horton told ESPN’s Joe McDonald earlier in the week. “I’m just enjoying my life. I’m healthy and I’m happy. It’s obviously tough because I want to play. It’s only my 30th birthday today, so I know I’m still young. Life gives you curveballs and I’m just trying to be positive and that’s pretty much all I can do.”

It is a long shot that Horton returns to the NHL, but recovery from back difficulties is not unprecedented. Wendel Clark and Gary Roberts were both dogged by back issues that kept them out for significant time early in their careers, but they were still able to remain effective scoring forwards into their mid to late 30’s.

The Leafs may hope to use Horton's salary on LTIR to give them more flexibility on the salary cap over the next five years as they attempt to deal veterans such as Joffrey Lupul, Phil Kessel or Dion Phaneuf and take back bad contracts in potential trades. His potential return could be a wrench in those plans.

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TSN’s Darren Dreger reported on Friday that there has not been any change in the timetable regarding Toronto hiring of a new general manager and that the club will likely head into the draft with Director of Player Personnel Mark Hunter at the helm.

Hunter is in the mix for the GM’s job, but the conventional wisdom is that Team President Brendan Shanahan wants to add someone with NHL experience to the management group and have Hunter concentrate on scouting and unearthing gems for the future.

Dreger mentioned NY assistant GM Jeff Gorton(who may now be free to talk to the Leafs after the Rangers elimination on Friday) and LA Kings VP of Hockey Operations Mike Futa as being likely options over Hunter from an experience standpoint and that Shanahan’s patience in a search for a GM would make sense if the Leafs are focused on either Gorton or Futa as a candidate.

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A pair of final draft rankings have some surprising results and prominent outliers as the June 26th NHL Draft in Sunrise, FL draws closer.

Former NHL GM and TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button ranks Boston College defenseman Noah Hanifin the third highest defenseman behind Ivan Provorov of Brandon Wheat Kings and University of Michigan’s Zach Werenski and 12th overall, whereas most rankings list Hanifin as the top defenseman at #3 or #4 overall.

Button lists Erie center Dylan Strome #3 just behind Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel and London Knights center/winger Mitch Marner at #4.

McKeen’s Hockey Final Top 30 list ranks Hanifin third after McDavid and Eichel, with Marner at #4, Provorov fifth, Sarnia center Pavel Zacha at #6 ahead of Strome.

Barring an unforeseen trade by Arizona at #3, the Leafs will likely have their choice of forwards at #4 between the bigger Strome, who has some question marks regarding his speed or Marner, who may not have the size to play center in the NHL.

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