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.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Stutzle would be better on the wing to do what he does & let Pinto centre him who is very good in the dot & very good defensively to cover for Stu. I'd put Giroux on the other side who can make plays & finish them or Gaudette who can finish plays. This might help Pinto get out of his slump too. Ostapchuk - Greig & Giroux would be an interesting 3rd line.

No Timmy needs to be at centre , not enough skating on the wing for him, or carrying the puck. Timmy has also been better defensively this year than Shane, and tougher matchups.

 

[OD99]

Definitely not what I have implied. But I can see why you will resort to this conclusion

You responded to not have a discussion by it was more along the lines of objecting me questioning Norris play-making ability and how I dare focus on the negative when I can just focus on his positive

Again, you are stating the obvious. He has a low assist total. OK?

People then say, ya but he offers X, Y and Z as offsets for the low assists.

You don't want to hear that, because you only mentioned the low assists. WTF do you want to see?

It's obvious to anyone that he will never be a big distributor and his goal scoring, skating, defensive acumen and FO ability are and will remain his strengths.

So you want to swap him for someone that will score 20 goals and have 35 assists? That would make you feel better?

 

[Nova Stutzlia]

20 assists in 70 games (in his career season)

6 assists in 30 games (this season when playing really good according to most)

Simple 2 question.
Is his assist count overwhelmingly low for a 1b center?
Is there a trend to be seen?

G A P
Career 82 61 143
2021-22 35 20 55
Rest of career 47 41 88

Most of the G-A imbalance is in one season.

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

G A P
Career 82 61 143
2021-22 35 20 55
Rest of career 47 41 88

Most of the G-A imbalance is in one season.

Exactly. It really doesn't align with the rest of his career. His killer AHL season was an even split and the time before that had him assisting on more than he scored.

 

[Norris4Norris]

Norris is on pace for about 30 goals and 20 assists.

That is solid. He plays 2-ways, wins faceoffs and scores goals. Not a bad 2nd line center.

He also starts more shifts in the defensive end than any other forward. Definitely a crucial cog in the Senators lineup.

 

[Tuna99]

What’s wrong with being a goal scorer? Wendy Clarke had a 1.410 goal to assist ratio which is where Norris is now basically and nobody talks about Wendy needing more assists. They talk about the rest of his game, as we do with Norris.

​

 

[Answer]

Again, you are stating the obvious. He has a low assist total. OK?

People then say, ya but he offers X, Y and Z as offsets for the low assists.

You don't want to hear that, because you only mentioned the low assists. WTF do you want to see?

It's obvious to anyone that he will never be a big distributor and his goal scoring, skating, defensive acumen and FO ability are and will remain his strengths.

So you want to swap him for someone that will score 20 goals and have 35 assists? That would make you feel better?

There you got. I rest my case. My point exactly which now you finally agreed too. Not sure what it took you so long to see the obvious.

That was my sole point. His assist total is low for a 1b center and its a trend in that we have seen in the NHL with him, that normal almost never happens with a center who can actually make plays, which we know Norris doesn't on level that he should be.

 

[OD99]

There you got. I rest my case. My point exactly which now you finally agreed too. Not sure what it took you so long to see the obvious.

That was my sole point. His assist total is low for a 1b center and its a trend in that we have seen in the NHL with him, that normal almost never happens with a center who can actually make plays, which we know Norris doesn't on level that he should be.

LOL. Talk about being a troll and someone just writing to be in a useless argument. Congratulations, you sucked me in to your trap. Hope you feel good.

I said he had a low assist total from my first post.