BOSTON -- Confirming what most had already suspected of Bostons fallen Game 7 playoff hero, its looking more and more like Nathan Horton might not be playing again for the Bruins this year.
A source close to the right winger told CSNNE.com that there have been no extensive organizational conversations about shutting down Horton as of yet, but the B's concussed power forward wont be returning anytime soon.
With six games left in the regular season after Tuesday nights tilt against the Tampa Bay Lightning, not much time is left for Horton attempt a comeback. And it doesnt appear he will be attempting that comeback soon.
They havent had those discussions yet, but its not too difficult to figure it out, the source said when asked if the Bs have reached a point where it makes sense to shut down Horton for the year.
If he misses the rest of the regular season, Horton will have missed 30 games with what was first termed a "mild" concussion. He was the victim of a Tom Sestito blindside hit to the head against the Flyers back on Jan. 22, eight months after Vancouver's Aaron Rome knocked Horton out of the Stanley Cup Finals with a head shot in Game 3.
It's difficult to envision Horton dropping back into the playoff-style pressure cooker after missing more than two full months and 30 games of the NHL regular season.
General manager Peter Chiarelli indicated shortly after the Horton's last concussion that the power forward would return at some point this season, but the Bruins have been much less firm in their statements as Hortons recovery has flattened out.
Bruins president Cam Neely wrote in an e-mail to CSNNE.com theres nothing to report when asked about potentially shutting down Horton for the season.
Horton reached the point where he was ready to get on the ice back in February, but he suffered a setback when he tried to skate. Horton hasnt attempted to get back out on the ice since then, but he has been working out on his own over the last few weeks.