Boston Bruins winger Nathan Horton hasn't played an NHL game since Jan. 22, when he suffered his second concussion in seven months. But according to his agent, Paul Krepelka, Horton was ready to play if the NHL season had started on time and is chomping at the bit to get back on the ice and help his teammates should there be a 2012-13 season.

"Nathan is healthy and ready for the season to start," Krepelka said. "Has been for a while now. He's ready to go and has been ready to go."

Horton concussion problems started from a devastating open-ice hit he took from Vancouver defenseman Aaron Rome in Game 3 of the 2011 Stanley Cup finals. Horton missed the rest of the Bruins' seven-game, Cup-winning series, but after a solid summer of recovery he returned to the lineup and played 46 games. He scored 17 goals and had 32 points when he suffered his second concussion at Philadelphia.