Nathan Horton: The NHL's Next Big Star Playing For The Panthers

Not a lot of people outside of the Florida Panthers community have heard the name Nathan Horton. This 24-year-old Florida forward has been flying under the radar for the entire season.

However, that doesn't mean he hasn't put up alarming numbers. Right now, he is 19th in the NHL in points and 11th in assists. He's actually tied with a few players you may have heard of.

In the points category, he's tied with Jarome Iginla, Evengini Malkin, Paul Statsny, and Tomas Plekanec. He also has the same amount of assists as Mikko Koivu, Patrick Kane, and Vinny Prospal with 23.

And yet, we haven't heard a lot about this kid. He has quietly put points up on the scoreboard and developing confidence from the fans.

That's something that you don't want to miss. If there's anything that the Florida Panthers need right now, it's a leading goal scorer. He only has 11 goals this season, but he's still 24. We all know that he's probably going to get better.

He's not going to be the next Sidney Crosby or Alex Ovechkin, but he is what the Panthers need. He's a strong player that can put the puck in the net, and more importantly, help his teammates put the puck in the net.

I want you to keep your eye on him over the next few years, and don't underestimate what he can do. I'm sure we'll be hearing his name a lot more in the coming years, and if the owners are smart, they'll keep him on their team.

He could be a major part of future Panthers success, and who know's maybe they'll build a team around this guy. Only time will tell.

Get more of my NHL Opinions at my blog TipsForHockey.com