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

[bicboi64]

I’ve said many times I’m a big fan of Norris’ game, so I’m just playing devil’s advocate here.

He has two assists 5v5 all season. Currently we have two great wingers in Tkachuk and Batherson, everyone else is either old or better suited on the third line. If Norris is better at driving play 5v5, does it give us more freedom to put Tkachuk with Stützle and then have Norris and Batherson drive their own line?

Norris and Batherson have stretches where they play well with a linemate like Giroux or Greig, but then it always goes cold fairly quickly. Stützle is now forced to drive a line by himself. So if Norris is only consistently effective with two talented wingers, then that does create issues in terms of getting all your lines going regularly.

I don’t see it as a major issue because 1) I expect Norris to improve here and 2) getting a good winger for Stützle shouldn’t be too challenging in the future, but I do think it’s a valid concern or at least worthy of discussion.

Valid point regarding Stu having to carry his line. I'd prefer to keep the Tkachuk Norris Bath line because each player compliments the other so well. Stu is still playing at a ppg clip without one of Tkachuk or Bath on his line, so I'm open to just having him rotate through wingers. Or maybe he pulls a Thanos 'I'll do it myself' moment and starts shooting more, he's got a very underrated shot.