Horton, Campbell Dealt To Bruins For Wideman, 15th Overall Pick

“Players [that] want to be here will be here,” Florida Panthers general manager Dale Tallon expressed when he was hired in May. “And players that want to play elsewhere will play elsewhere. That’s what is going to happen here.”

One of the players who fit into that latter group was 25-year old right wing Nathan Horton, who informed Tallon upon his hiring that he wanted to be moved.

“Obviously he was frustrated with what has gone on in the past and (wanted to know) if we could help him out to see what is out there for him,” Tallon said in a conference call following the trade. “That’s how this all began. He showed frustration and felt it would maybe be better if he was able to go somewhere else.”

On Tuesday, Tallon granted the wish of the former third overall pick, and continued making good on ownership's vows to re-shape the organization, by shipping Horton to the Boston Bruins along with center Gregory Campbell in exchange for defenseman Dennis Wideman, the Bruins’ 15th overall pick in Friday’s NHL Entry Draft and a third round selection in 2011.

With this move, Horton will try to deliver a much needed goal-scoring boost to the lowest scoring team from last season with 196 goals. Horton has produced at least 20 goals in each of his last five seasons and has the ability to put in over 30, as witnessed by his 2006-07 campaign of 31 scores. He will go a long way in replacing the offense lost when Phil Kessel was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs last summer. Horton has three years and $14 million remaining on the six-year deal his signed prior to the 2007 NHL Draft, with an annual cap hit of $4 million per season.