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

[Dionysus]

Forgot to mention it but yeah, we need to add Top-9 forwards and potential Top-9 forwards, not remove them.

As weird as it sounds, defense and goaltending are fine at the moment, plus Yakemchuk is coming in a year or two.

Added forward depth or upgrades would be very helpful. Adding PK ability, speed, and passing in the top-9 would be great.

 

[Xspyrit]

Added forward depth or upgrades would be very helpful. Adding PK ability, speed, and passing in the top-9 would be great.

What about Mathieu Joseph?

Seriously, need to add great skating ability on that 3rd line, PK ability with scoring and feistiness, someone who plays with a lot of energy. Ideally, I'd add a guy like Joseph (well, a healthy version) and a guy like Connor Brown (Ottawa version)

Tkachuk - Norris - Batherson
Joseph - Stutzle - Giroux
Greig - Pinto - Brown

Amadio + Perron = 6.6 AAV

Need to replace them with faster/better. Not sure how we're going to achieve that though. Might need another 3rd to move Amadio

 

[Dionysus]

What about Mathieu Joseph?

Seriously, need to add great skating ability on that 3rd line, PK ability with scoring and feistiness, someone who plays with a lot of energy. Ideally, I'd add a guy like Joseph (well, a healthy version) and a guy like Connor Brown (Ottawa version)

Tkachuk - Norris - Batherson
Joseph - Stutzle - Giroux
Greig - Pinto - Brown

Amadio + Perron = 6.6 AAV

Need to replace them with faster/better. Not sure how we're going to achieve that though. Might need another 3rd to move Amadio

He's fast, but too inconsistent for my liking. Difficult to fill the fast and tenacious pk role, and the offensive role of someone who can play higher up the lineup. End up looking for an elite player.

Would be nice to have someone with quick enough feet and brain, as well as some offense touch, to play with Stutzle. Basically another real scorer. Panarin is someone that comes to mind. Not realistic to add a player like that with the current cap allocation.

A Conner Brown 3rd line PK type is probably the best option at this time. The PK needs someone to help anchor it.

 

[thinkwild]

Pk needs someone like Vermette? Im surprised everyone seems to have Pageau ahead of Vermette. That's a tough one for me, thought it would at least be up for debate.

Im so relieved the operation seems to have worked for Norris too. Hopefully a little time will see him settle into that Dave Poulin/ Rod brind'amour type role.

 

[GCK]

I tend to agree, a bigger Turris is a good comparable.

Ugh. A bigger player with a better shot, better skating, better on draws and better in the dot. Turris was a better playmaker.

 

[Tundraman]

Just when I thought it might be ok to trade him he does something like this! Scores 2 goals and wins the game

 

[Burrowsaurus]

Pk needs someone like Vermette? Im surprised everyone seems to have Pageau ahead of Vermette. That's a tough one for me, thought it would at least be up for debate.

Im so relieved the operation seems to have worked for Norris too. Hopefully a little time will see him settle into that Dave Poulin/ Rod brind'amour type role.

Pk needs a better set up. They’ve conceded that right side all year.

 

[PlayersLtd]

I hate that I'm saying this but if people have Pageau ahead of Fisher and Vermette than it's possible that he's the most overrated Sens player of all time. Love the guy, but not in that league and was always praised around here at a level that was not consistent with his overall play.

Stutzle
Spezza
Yashin
Fisher
Turris
Bonk
Norris
Vermette
Pageau

With Norris likely to rise through that list as his career progresses. Pageau barely squeaks into the top ten Sens centremen of all time. Smolinsky and Duchene I don't count because of tenure but they'd bump Pageau out of the top ten. Might be forgetting someone.

 

[Tuna99]

I enjoyed his post-game with Claire Hanna, telling the fans to keep on coming cause it’s gonna get better. He has a calming confidence to him.

Like Turris there’s some leadership there as well in the sense he’s pulling on the rope for the boys and gets the most out of himself

Norris should maybe eat some cheesecake

Pinto should eat 2 chicken-parms

Stutzle
Spezza
Fisher
Norris
Turris
Pageau
Vermette
Bonk
Yashin

 

[Tuna99]

Vermette so underrated still, best face off guy in the league and one of the fastest guys in the league, PK and PP, great 2 way player, and he just fit the culture of those Alfie “stay at home on a Saturday night” teams.

Great player, was upset when they trade him.

 

[Icelevel]

I hate that I'm saying this but if people have Pageau ahead of Fisher and Vermette than it's possible that he's the most overrated Sens player of all time. Love the guy, but not in that league and was always praised around here at a level that was not consistent with his overall play.

Stutzle
Spezza
Yashin
Fisher
Turris
Bonk
Norris
Vermette
Pageau

With Norris likely to rise through that list as his career progresses. Pageau barely squeaks into the top ten Sens centremen of all time. Smolinsky and Duchene I don't count because of tenure but they'd bump Pageau out of the top ten. Might be forgetting someone.

Pinto is supposed to end up right there after fisher. Let’s see (can’t be too optimistic at this stage unfortunately)

 

[Yak]

When you had Brady and Batherson and Norris on the same line that was a pretty good line that did some damage. Brady was the bull in the china shop that created the space for those guys.

The only way Norris ever gets traded or recoup assets for him as if we can make him valuable again. Then you have to wonder is he worth trading. There's no doubt he has the talent. Anyone who can drop 35 in a season on this team has some talent. We know his injury history it's just a matter of are we going to get fleece trading him or get full value if it goes a couple of years without an injury. You can't trade him right now everyone's going to try and get a deal on him like they're doing us a favor.

If Norris's game matures he will be a bargain. The guy comes in one of the most physically fit members on the team and yet he still has injuries. I'd like to see him put on a little bit of weight make him a little stronger in the upper body. I dare say I would like him to play more physical but I like them just to play staying healthy.

 

[Xspyrit]

He's fast, but too inconsistent for my liking. Difficult to fill the fast and tenacious pk role, and the offensive role of someone who can play higher up the lineup. End up looking for an elite player.

Would be nice to have someone with quick enough feet and brain, as well as some offense touch, to play with Stutzle. Basically another real scorer. Panarin is someone that comes to mind. Not realistic to add a player like that with the current cap allocation.

A Conner Brown 3rd line PK type is probably the best option at this time. The PK needs someone to help anchor it.

- The Joseph boat in Ottawa has sunk already so not talking about bringing him back but someone who plays like him. I don't care if inconsistent, bottom-6 forwards all are and that's why they're not top-6 forwards. I found that even if Jos wasn't fire every game, he was still playing with speed and energy every game. We need dynamic guys like that in the bottom, cruelly

- Yeah, not even worth to talk about Panarin, can't see how we could ever afford him. Rangers would have to retain and in that case, that would cost too much (and we don't even have valuable assets FT except our 1st and Yakemchuk). That said, Panarin is also a premium playdriver and playmaker like Stutzle, they wouldn't "fit" together even if of course they would be unstoppable. Finally, Panarin is already 33 y/o so I am not interested for that reason. Need someone who is 25-30 y/o

- and yeah, a fast 2-way middle six not too expensive guy like Brown was in Ottawa is exactly what we need.

Pk needs someone like Vermette? Im surprised everyone seems to have Pageau ahead of Vermette. That's a tough one for me, thought it would at least be up for debate.

Pageau is a 54.1% in career face-offs. He also got Selke votes in 5 different seasons while never scoring more than 43 pts

But you're right that it's very debatable since Vermette was a similar player. Selke votes in 4 different seasons. 56.9 career FO%, his 82 Game Average was 18 goals, 22 assists and 40 pts (17-20-37 for Pageau). Vermette had a 65 pts season in Columbus and a 53 pts season in Ottawa. Both were/are great skaters and very likeable guys.

 

[JD1]

Pk needs someone like Vermette? Im surprised everyone seems to have Pageau ahead of Vermette. That's a tough one for me, thought it would at least be up for debate.

Im so relieved the operation seems to have worked for Norris too. Hopefully a little time will see him settle into that Dave Poulin/ Rod brind'amour type role.

I don't ever recall the building screaming vermette vermette vermette vermette

Pageau occupies a uniquely special place for me... loudest I've ever heard the building

 

[Xspyrit]

I hate that I'm saying this but if people have Pageau ahead of Fisher and Vermette than it's possible that he's the most overrated Sens player of all time. Love the guy, but not in that league and was always praised around here at a level that was not consistent with his overall play.

Stutzle
Spezza
Yashin
Fisher
Turris
Bonk
Norris
Vermette
Pageau

With Norris likely to rise through that list as his career progresses. Pageau barely squeaks into the top ten Sens centremen of all time. Smolinsky and Duchene I don't count because of tenure but they'd bump Pageau out of the top ten. Might be forgetting someone.

ok so since I find this interesting (good job Tuna), I did my ranking based on PPG, games played, overall play, etc. I didn't project Stutzle and Norris (and Pinto) since we never know, they could be traded tomorrow! 150 GP to be eligible

1- Jason Spezza
2- Alexei Yashin
3- Tim Stützle
=========
4- Kyle Turris
5- Mike Fisher
6- Josh Norris
7- Radek Bonk
=========
8- Mika Zibanejad
9- Antoine Vermette
10- JG Pageau
11- Todd White
=========
12- Derick Brassard
13- Chris Kelly
14- Zack Smith

I didn't select a #15 as I find Colin White or Chris Tierney shouldn't be ranked lol

 

[Bileur]

I’m thinking Bonk is underrated with these rankings.

 

[Xspyrit]

I’m thinking Bonk is underrated with these rankings.

Does he have arguments over any of Spezza, Yashin, Stützle, Turris, Fisher and Norris?

Maybe I should have ranked him over Norris because of games played

 

[PlayersLtd]

Does he have arguments over any of Spezza, Yashin, Stützle, Turris, Fisher and Norris?

Maybe I should have ranked him over Norris because of games played

He has arguments over Turris and Fisher for sure, probably not Norris once potential is met. Bonk was a big body and was really good at creating space and distributing and developed great chemistry with Hossa. Not flashy but simple, effective and consistent.

I have Fisher over him but on second thought I think that could be Fisher bias. Fisher was not the playmaker that Bonk was and for that was a great third line C but not your ideal second line C. Bonk was more of a top 6 centre due to playmaking, imo.

(I forgot Zib on my list)

 

[Xspyrit]

He has arguments over Turris and Fisher for sure, probably not Norris once potential is met. Bonk was a big body and was really good at creating space and distributing and developed great chemistry with Hossa. Not flashy but simple, effective and consistent.

I have Fisher over him but on second thought I think that could be Fisher bias. Fisher was not the playmaker that Bonk was and for that was a great third line C but not your ideal second line C. Bonk was more of a top 6 centre due to playmaking, imo.

(I forgot Zib on my list)

Yeah

1st tier : Spezza, Yashin, Stützle
2nd tier : Turris, Fisher, Norris, Bonk

It could be a long debate between the guys in that 2nd tier, they all would have legit arguments. Norris because over time he could clinch anyone in there. Fisher because of his incredible 2-way and physical game. I wish we had a bulldozer like that right now (well, outside of Brady). Bonk for the physical and high IQ stuff you mentioned and Turris for his evolved 2-way game. I watched the replays of the Pageau 4 goals game and you see a few highlights where you understand how good Turris was.

 

[PlayersLtd]

100%. I have a theory that the Turris negotiations were in fact ground zero when the team began to unravel into the abyss of the Dorion/Melnyk era.

 

[thinkwild]

I don't ever recall the building screaming vermette vermette vermette vermette

Pageau occupies a uniquely special place for me... loudest I've ever heard the building

Oh i agree, the 4 goal games and the Pageau Pageau song are part of sens lore. Definitely impressive high water marks. Still feels like Vermette overall though would be ranked higher to me in the long run, but its close. Never heard a Kuuuuuba chant either but i dont think Zuuub is better Bad comparison cause they are so different was just trying to think of a Sens dman with a u in his name lol

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

I don't ever recall the building screaming vermette vermette vermette vermette

Pageau occupies a uniquely special place for me... loudest I've ever heard the building

Yes, Vermette was great and I was a big fan, but I don't really have any specific memories or moments associated like Pageau's big games.

 

[R2010]

ok so since I find this interesting (good job Tuna), I did my ranking based on PPG, games played, overall play, etc. I didn't project Stutzle and Norris (and Pinto) since we never know, they could be traded tomorrow! 150 GP to be eligible

1- Jason Spezza
2- Alexei Yashin
3- Tim Stützle
=========
4- Kyle Turris
5- Mike Fisher
6- Josh Norris
7- Radek Bonk
=========
8- Mika Zibanejad
9- Antoine Vermette
10- JG Pageau
11- Todd White
=========
12- Derick Brassard
13- Chris Kelly
14- Zack Smith

I didn't select a #15 as I find Colin White or Chris Tierney shouldn't be ranked lol

One of the most disappointing aspects is that until Stutzle learns to take a face off he'll never be on top of this list regardless of how many points he scores.

 

[PlayersLtd]

One of the most disappointing aspects is that until Stutzle learns to take a face off he'll never be on top of this list regardless of how many points he scores.

The only thing that makes this a viable take is that there are no other disappointing aspects so technically yes, it's 100% accurate to suggest that such a minor thing is one of the most disappointing aspects.

If Stu keeps up his play his + - 8 face-offs lost per 100 vs Spezza will be even more irrelevant to the debate than it is now.

 

[DylanSensFan]

One of the most disappointing aspects is that until Stutzle learns to take a face off he'll never be on top of this list regardless of how many points he scores.

Need to get Spezza to work with him.