A healthy Josh Norris should pay big dividends for Ottawa Senators
Published Oct 10, 2024 • Last updated 13 hours ago • 4 minute read
Opening night is always special, but this one had to mean a touch more to Josh Norris.
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The hard work, the countless hours in the gym, the blood, the sweat, the tears and the recovery from the third shoulder surgery finally paid off for the Ottawa Senators centre as he was introduced to the crowd at the Canadian Tire Centre on Thursday night.
It’s the first time Norris, 25, has suited up since suffering a shoulder injury on Feb. 27 against the Nashville Predators and undergoing a procedure in early March to repair the ailment.
He suited up for only two pre-season games because the Senators didn’t want to take any chances, but he’s ready to roll.
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“I feel good,” Norris said earlier this week as the Senators prepared to face the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. “I just tried to use those pre-season games to get up to speed, feel comfortable and just do the things that I’m going to have to do on a regular basis.
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“I feel like I’ve got enough games in and I am ready to go.”
The reality is the Senators need a healthy Norris if they’re going to push for a playoff spot next spring and that’s why there was so much concern when his role was limited the past couple of days. He scored 35 goals in 66 games in 2021-22 and needs to return to that form.
His return gives head coach Travis Green options. So, how can Norris help?
“In a lot of ways,” Green said. “He’s a dynamic skater, he’s strong on the puck and you see a lot of things that you like in a top-two line centre. It’s great to have him back because he can add a lot of different elements to the game.”
Norris is ahead of where he was last year at this point because he wasn’t even a participant in camp and didn’t suit up until Oct. 18 in the club’s fifth game of the season. He skated on a line Thursday morning with Ridly Greig on the left and Drake Batherson on the right.
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It also should be noted that Norris took faceoffs in the pre-season and that’s also something that didn’t happen last year, either. If he’s healthy, it gives the club a good, solid one-two punch with Tim Stutzle while Shane Pinto anchors the third line.
“It’s huge to have him back,” Batherson said Thursday. “Josh has shown what he can do in this league. He had 35 goals in (66) games a couple of years ago and, whenever you get a guy like that fully healthy, he plays both sides of the puck, brings a lot of speed and he’s got a great shot.
“He’s an awesome guy to have in the room.”
Norris re-injured the shoulder after he was knocked into the post in the back of the net by Nashville’s Cole Smith. He immediately was placed on long-term injury reserve (LTIR) and had the surgery in early March by a specialist in Colorado.
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He first had the shoulder surgically repaired after he was injured while playing for Team USA at the 2019 world junior championship. He missed the rest of that season at the University of Michigan and then started his professional career with Belleville.
Norris was out for 16 games during the 2021-22 NHL campaign after he injured his shoulder again in Jan. 2022.
He missed 38 games last season after suffering a shoulder injury in early October. Instead of having surgery, Norris sought several opinions and decided to go the rehab route. He came back, but suited up for only three games before he had another injury in Jan. 2023 and had another procedure, ending his season.
What Norris has been through takes a lot of resilience.
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“He’s done it three times,” Batherson said. “I only had the one (ankle) injury and was only out two months, and I thought that two months was hard. He’s gone through six months three times. It just shows how strong he is.
“Every day when he had his injury, he came in with a smile on his face and laughing. That says a lot about his character and we’re so pumped to have him back.”
But with the return comes pressure because this group wants to make the next step to the playoffs and that’s the same for everyone on this team.
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“Expectations are always going to be there,” Norris said. “It’s been tossed around before, but the pressure is a privilege and we put more pressure on ourselves than (anyone else). You can make it overwhelming or you can accept it and run right through it.
“It’s a good thing we’re expected to do well and we expect to do well too. I don’t think it’s a bad thing.”
Norris is making $7.95 million per season in the third year of a contract that runs through the 2029-30 campaign. He has scored 70 goals and has 123 points in 183 career games in the National Hockey League.
“Everyone is just excited to play and ready to get going,” Norris said.
He couldn’t be more correct on that front.
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