Player Discussion Josh Norris (C) 6’-1” - Part 3

[JD1]

Right? And the reason why Pinto is looking better is due to the depth in the middle. Greig is a great player, and may very well push his way to the middle, but not quite yet

Slotting is a real thing.

We're on a roll lately. Being healthy really helps. Several weeks back around Pinto's return I was seeing crazy stats on winning percentage with all of Stuetzle, Pinto and Norris. And that's continuing which is good.

Evidence of late shows we're a decent team if we're healthy. But it also shows we're not quite deep enough yet or structured yet to overcome major injuries

 

[GCK]

We have Stu, Norris, Pinto and Greig to choose our top 3 centres. It’s obvious to me that Greig or Stutzle should move to wing. I think Stu would thrive as a line driving winger like Kuch, Pasta, Marchand, Marner, Nylander, Kane, etc…. Simplify his defensive responsibilities and let him dominate offensively.

 

[Adrianopolous]

That was an awful shootout attempt

 

[Xspyrit]

That was an awful shootout attempt

Not really, he simply missed his shot as the puck was too much at the end of the stick

 

[KevinRedkey]

I know a guy who knows a guy that works with the Sens. He mentioned the entire team was emotionally broken when DJ got fired, but that Norris had been 'down' much longer than the rest. Not medically - but more so as he just had no confidence in his play on the ice.

I only mention this because he seemed more confident the last 2 games, and if his poor play was mood/confidence related - a good game or 2 can make a big difference sometimes.

 

[bert]

Right? And the reason why Pinto is looking better is due to the depth in the middle. Greig is a great player, and may very well push his way to the middle, but not quite yet

Pinto looks good because he is a really good player. He is better than Norris he's more versatile and complete. Way higher hockey iq. Norris is faster and has a quicker release but thats really the extent of it.

Yes Norris is coming off a major injury. I have no problem with giving him time. But he was avoiding contact and not competing. His ice time was cut and he responded. Which I think is great. I have all the time in the world for giving injured players time to come back. I don't have time for guys that are taking short cuts and aren't playing physical. There's a big difference.

I will also maintain that I don't think Norris is a natural puck distributer. I think he's better suited for the wing as a shoot first player. Greig is the opposite. Doesn't have a great shot but hangs on to the puck and sees the ice really well. Norris is also faster and more explosive. I'd like them both to succeed and if they were switched I think collectively the team will be better and have more success.

 

[Icelevel]

Pinto looks good because he is a really good player. He is better than Norris he's more versatile and complete. Way higher hockey iq. Norris is faster and has a quicker release but thats really the extent of it.

Yes Norris is coming off a major injury. I have no problem with giving him time. But he was avoiding contact and not competing. His ice time was cut and he responded. Which I think is great. I have all the time in the world for giving injured players time to come back. I don't have time for guys that are taking short cuts and aren't playing physical. There's a big difference.

I will also maintain that I don't think Norris is a natural puck distributer. I think he's better suited for the wing as a shoot first player. Greig is the opposite. Doesn't have a great shot but hangs on to the puck and sees the ice really well. Norris is also faster and more explosive. I'd like them both to succeed and if they were switched I think collectively the team will be better and have more success.

Agree with all your recent posts. Saves me time from replying myself.

 

[coladin]

Pinto looks good because he is a really good player. He is better than Norris he's more versatile and complete. Way higher hockey iq. Norris is faster and has a quicker release but thats really the extent of it.

Yes Norris is coming off a major injury. I have no problem with giving him time. But he was avoiding contact and not competing. His ice time was cut and he responded. Which I think is great. I have all the time in the world for giving injured players time to come back. I don't have time for guys that are taking short cuts and aren't playing physical. There's a big difference.

I will also maintain that I don't think Norris is a natural puck distributer. I think he's better suited for the wing as a shoot first player. Greig is the opposite. Doesn't have a great shot but hangs on to the puck and sees the ice really well. Norris is also faster and more explosive. I'd like them both to succeed and if they were switched I think collectively the team will be better and have more success.

Truly fortunate to have these guys on the team, and a good problem to have. But his defensive metrics prior to his injuries, to me, tells me that he has really good defensive tendencies and anticipation. I do agree that he shied away from contact, but he is completely in there now, as much as he ever was as he was never a physical presence on the ice.

Pinto is going to need a half step, those first three strides have to be better for him to separate himself from a 3C conversation to a 2C. I know he has the work ethic to do it.

Norris is going to bounce back, and will be much better going forward plus hopefully next year he can resume his Ovechkin duties on the PP

 

[Burrowsaurus]

This simply isn't true unfortunately. He's soft as hell now. This was the scouting report on him in 2021. He does not compete, he does not win one on one battles he bails on finishing his checks. He's a liability everywhere on the ice.


Norris should be moved to the wing and Greig should be playing center. It's so obvious. Norris can't hang on to or distribute pucks. He never has. I find it very strange this hasn't happened yet. Greig is also way less effective as a winger.

Scouting report from whom?

 

[Good in Osgoode]

I know a guy who knows a guy that works with the Sens. He mentioned the entire team was emotionally broken when DJ got fired, but that Norris had been 'down' much longer than the rest. Not medically - but more so as he just had no confidence in his play on the ice.

I only mention this because he seemed more confident the last 2 games, and if his poor play was mood/confidence related - a good game or 2 can make a big difference sometimes.

This certainly matches up with how the team played and their body language in interviews after DJ got fired. There was a lack of energy, a lack of confidence, like they were broken.

Now, they seem to have that confidence back and there is a lot of energy in how they are playing.
Norris is a perfect example of this. For a young team, it's all about confidence.

I think that is why Staois and Poulin are actively looking to add veteran players. To help these young players ride it out when things go south like they did with the 5-game losing streak in December followed up by the 6-game losing streak in early January.

 

[JungleBeat]

He’s been a non factor. What an anchor of a contract so far.

 

[DJB]

He’s been a non factor. What an anchor of a contract so far.

I’m glad I’m no longer the only one. Norris is brutal and that contract is awful.

 

[GCK]

Norris scores 17 goals in 31 games after coming back March 2022. He then misses almost a full season, can’t train properly in the offseason, misses camp and the start of the season. You guys need to have some patience and wait for next season. This is normal, same thing happened to Patrice Bergeron early in his career.

 

[Icelevel]

He’s been a non factor. What an anchor of a contract so far.

I’ve been critical too. But…he’s still 6th in forward scoring and on pace for 25 goals in a year where he’s coming back from a big injury.
Having said that. Can we trade him for Crouse?

 

[Xspyrit]

Not sure about the timing for "Norris is this or that"

Sure, he didn't do much last night in 13 mins but most of the team was dejected after Hamonic-Chychrun-Forsberg handed out 4-5 goals to the caps in like 22 minutes...

Prior to that game, Norris had 3 goals 1 assist +3 in the last 2 games and was looking like his old self

Norris scores 17 goals in 31 games after coming back March 2022. He then misses almost a full season, can’t train properly in the offseason, misses camp and the start of the season. You guys need to have some patience and wait for next season. This is normal, same thing happened to Patrice Bergeron early in his career.

And many other players. We had this recently with Batherson too. He scored points last season due to the PP but has looked much better this season (after a slow start) and only has 2 ES points less than last season in 26 games less.

I know a guy who knows a guy that works with the Sens. He mentioned the entire team was emotionally broken when DJ got fired, but that Norris had been 'down' much longer than the rest. Not medically - but more so as he just had no confidence in his play on the ice.

I only mention this because he seemed more confident the last 2 games, and if his poor play was mood/confidence related - a good game or 2 can make a big difference sometimes.

He's coming back from a long term injury and since being able to perform at the NHL level is never going to be easy for anybody, he was probably seeing a therapist. Actually, fans might not know this but a LOT of players see a sports therapist. It's an old Daniel Briere interview that opened my eyes on the subject.

Coming back from a serious injury seems to be one of the hardest thing to do mentally at the NHL level.

 

[OmniSens]

Well... Here we go again.

 

[Good in Osgoode]

Well... Here we go again.

I can't even imagine what he must be going through with these shoulder injuries.
Just when he starts to get things going again, this happens.
Really hope he is ok but that did not look good.

 

[coladin]

Gutted for him. Hope it is nothing serious as initially it looked like a concussion (not that it isn't serious), but I think he went for precautionary reasons. The PTSD is strong with him

 

[Micklebot]

Gutted for him. Hope it is nothing serious as initially it looked like a concussion (not that it isn't serious), but I think he went for precautionary reasons. The PTSD is strong with him

there was definitely a hit to the head, but when he got up and skated off that left arm really looked like it was causing him issues, he wasn't moving it at all.

If it is a suspected concussion, that's probably good news as horrible as it sounds.

 

[Wondercarrot]

Muy no bueno

 

[Burrowsaurus]

Went off with dead arm. I suspect another 10 months out

 

[Sting]

I know these injuries were very much unexpected/random, but this is why you don't sign everyone to an 8 year deal. Leave those to the true stars of the team.

 

[lancepitlick]

Hit his left shoulder off the post, left arm was drooping and he was favouring it coming off and looked to be in a lot of pain (no "pain" for a concussion). I'd be shocked if he didn't dislocate his shoulder. Once that starts happening it becomes easier to reoccur so it makes sense. I don't know where that leaves him in terms of medical options (surgery, rehab etc.), but I don't think he'll be seeing the ice any time remotely soon.

I know these injuries were very much unexpected/random, but this is why you don't sign everyone to an 8 year deal. Leave those to the true stars of the team.

Pierre Dorion school of panic general managing with zero forethought. Tiny sample size of success and GMPD wants to lock a guy up for 8 years at big money. Same thing for Korpisalo. It's like every decision he made was based on desperation and wishful thinking.

 

[Sting]

Hit his left shoulder off the post, left arm was drooping and he was favouring it coming off and looked to be in a lot of pain (no "pain" for a concussion). I'd be shocked if he didn't dislocate his shoulder. Once that starts happening it becomes easier to reoccur so it makes sense. I don't know where that leaves him in terms of medical options (surgery, rehab etc.), but I don't think he'll be seeing the ice any time remotely soon.


Pierre Dorion school of panic general managing with zero forethought. Tiny sample size of success and GMPD wants to lock a guy up for 8 years at big money. Same thing for Korpisalo. It's like every decision he made was based on desperation and wishful thinking.

The unfortunate part is that from a rebuild perspective, we were doing well. Then he decided to fast-track it because Chabot was tired of sucking. Then things completely went off the rails with asset and contract mismanagement.

 

[Cosmix]

This certainly matches up with how the team played and their body language in interviews after DJ got fired. There was a lack of energy, a lack of confidence, like they were broken.

Now, they seem to have that confidence back and there is a lot of energy in how they are playing.
Norris is a perfect example of this. For a young team, it's all about confidence.

I think that is why Staois and Poulin are actively looking to add veteran players. To help these young players ride it out when things go south like they did with the 5-game losing streak in December followed up by the 6-game losing streak in early January.

Some vets are worth acquiring; others are not. We have seen too many of the latter variety in the past.

Giroux and Tarasenko were good additions. Both were UFA additions which just cost salary dollars rather than assets such as players, prospects and draft picks.

We could use a very good vet RD and vet goaltender.