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

[DylanSensFan]

I thought this was interesting:



Honestly we’re probably a better team with Norris at centre because when everyone’s going it allows us to run 4 decent lines, but during one of the cold streaks they really should try Norris on Stützle’s wing. Feels like that would be a game changer if they ended up having great chemistry.

I'd put Perron with Stü and Giroux when he finally returns. I'd keep Norris, Batherson and Tkachuk together.

 

[DylanSensFan]

The question is what do the Sens think he is at his peak? Because if they don’t think the production is going to get significantly better then you can understand why they would prioritize getting out of the contract.

The other question is where do they see Pinto fitting in? Again if they prefer him as our 2C, you can’t justify Norris at 8 million on the third line.

Personally I am not a fan of trading Norris for an underwhelming return just to get his money off the books. But I also like the player and think he will improve quite a bit. If the Sens feel differently then I can see why they allegedly want to move him now while he has some value rather than holding onto him and risking not being able to get him off the books later.

He's 25. I could see him being a 70 point player on the regular. I could see him reaching a point per game for a few seasons. Norris may be on our second line 5v5, but he is a first line PP player.

I like the way Pinto plays, but he seems more like a trigger man than a playmaker. If we put him with Batherson, maybe we get more production from him? Maybe we put him with Batherson and Giroux and we put Norris and Tkachuk on the first line? The problem becomes, with a L shot winger in Norris and another in Tkachuk is who plays their proper side and then how does that affect the offense of the other L shot winger? The same goes for Batherson and Giroux. Pinto needs a playmaker and maybe so does Norris. Is one enough on each line to make it worthwhile to move Norris to Stü's wing?

Norris is going to improve. I don't put a lot of belief that we are trying to trade him. But, I could be wrong. The problem is, his injury history has already made him a player who can't be traded for high value. We almost need to see more seasons and more points out of him to make him an asset that can be traded for a good return. By that time, he might be worth every penny of his contract.

 

[ReginKarlssonLehner]

Giroux... the 1st line C for Philly and one of the best 2 way players in the league, started to play wing on Couturier's wing. Because it helped the team more to win.

Norris, if he can be a winger for Giroux, will be more valuable to us there than 2nd line C; because I have utter confidence Pinto can be a top 2nd line C.

Norris-Stutzle-Batherson
Tkachuk-Pinto-Giroux
Cousins-Greig-Amadio
xxxxx-Ostapchuk-xxxxx

I'm not going to bother penciling Perron in until I see him play again.

 

[PlayOn]

He's 25. I could see him being a 70 point player on the regular. I could see him reaching a point per game for a few seasons. Norris may be on our second line 5v5, but he is a first line PP player.

I like the way Pinto plays, but he seems more like a trigger man than a playmaker. If we put him with Batherson, maybe we get more production from him? Maybe we put him with Batherson and Giroux and we put Norris and Tkachuk on the first line? The problem becomes, with a L shot winger in Norris and another in Tkachuk is who plays their proper side and then how does that affect the offense of the other L shot winger? The same goes for Batherson and Giroux. Pinto needs a playmaker and maybe so does Norris. Is one enough on each line to make it worthwhile to move Norris to Stü's wing?

Norris is going to improve. I don't put a lot of belief that we are trying to trade him. But, I could be wrong. The problem is, his injury history has already made him a player who can't be traded for high value. We almost need to see more seasons and more points out of him to make him an asset that can be traded for a good return. By that time, he might be worth every penny of his contract.

Garrioch tends to be right about these things, and he’s been pretty adamant that Staios wants to move him.

I don’t agree with it, and who knows, maybe a strong second half changes things here. But again we are relying on the assumption that he’s going to improve but they might not be willing to take that chance with 40 million dollars tied up in him or whatever it is. I’m not so much advocating for it, I like Norris and I think it could easily come back to bite us, I just think Garrioch has said it enough at this point that it likely has some legs to it.

 

[Good in Osgoode]

Giroux... the 1st line C for Philly and one of the best 2 way players in the league, started to play wing on Couturier's wing. Because it helped the team more to win.

Norris, if he can be a winger for Giroux, will be more valuable to us there than 2nd line C; because I have utter confidence Pinto can be a top 2nd line C.

Norris-Stutzle-Batherson
Tkachuk-Pinto-Giroux
Cousins-Greig-Amadio
xxxxx-Ostapchuk-xxxxx

I'm not going to bother penciling Perron in until I see him play again.

Norris-Stutzle-Batherson
Tkachuk-Pinto-Giroux
Cousins-Greig-Amadio

When Amadio returns, this is probably the best possible top-9 that we have.

Norris does seem more like a C to me than Stutzle, so I would look to swap those two, at least for face-offs.
Greig is most effective in the middle and I think he is an ideal 3rd line Centre, with how he plays.

Norris & Batherson have great chemistry and with Stutzle, that line could be dominant.
Tkachuk & Giroux have some chemistry together, and I think those 2 would bring the best out of Pinto.

 

[DylanSensFan]

Garrioch tends to be right about these things, and he’s been pretty adamant that Staios wants to move him.

I don’t agree with it, and who knows, maybe a strong second half changes things here. But again we are relying on the assumption that he’s going to improve but they might not be willing to take that chance with 40 million dollars tied up in him or whatever it is. I’m not so much advocating for it, I like Norris and I think it could easily come back to bite us, I just think Garrioch has said it enough at this point that it likely has some legs to it.

I just can't see us making a trade unless another high quality center is coming in return. Staios may be thinking about it, but he's also good at playing the long game. I personally think a Norris trade is going to come back to bite us hard. He needs to be better, but I think he's close to breaking out.

Norris-Stutzle-Batherson
Tkachuk-Pinto-Giroux
Cousins-Greig-Amadio

When Amadio returns, this is probably the best possible top-9 that we have.

Norris does seem more like a C to me than Stutzle, so I would look to swap those two, at least for face-offs.
Greig is most effective in the middle and I think he is an ideal 3rd line Centre, with how he plays.

Norris & Batherson have great chemistry and with Stutzle, that line could be dominant.
Tkachuk & Giroux have some chemistry together, and I think those 2 would bring the best out of Pinto.

At least with Giroux, Pinto gets a playmaker and with Tkachuk, Pinto gets someone who can deflect shots. But Pinto seems pretty hot and cold right now. He needs to show he can drive more offense.

 

[PlayOn]

I just can't see us making a trade unless another high quality center is coming in return. Staios may be thinking about it, but he's also good at playing the long game. I personally think a Norris trade is going to come back to bite us hard. He needs to be better, but I think he's close to breaking out.


At least with Giroux, Pinto gets a playmaker and with Tkachuk, Pinto gets someone who can deflect shots. But Pinto seems pretty hot and cold right now. He needs to show he can drive more offense.

He’d be selling low on him no doubt.

I also think it’s all the more reason to throw him on the wing at some point and see how Pinto/Greig handle 2nd and 3rd line duties over a prolonged period. Hard to know exactly what their logic is with all of this at the moment.

 

[aragorn]

Stutzle is who they should move to the wing, he can still play the same way from the wing. Both Norris & Pinto are much better 200' defensive game.

Tkachuk - Norris - Batherson - this is a very good line, keep them together
Stutzle - Pinto - Giroux - Pinto's defence & speed is what Stutzle needs on his line
Perron - Greig - Gaudette - hopefully Peron puts together a decent season next yr.
Ostapchuk - Halliday - Amadio/MacEwan/Gregor - allow Halliday to slowly ease into the C spot

 

[bicboi64]

Would be so nice to be able to consistently ice Tkachuk Norris Bath. Really hope we can get a top 6 winger for Stu to let Norris play with both Brady and Bath

 

[BigRig4]

Stutzle is who they should move to the wing, he can still play the same way from the wing. Both Norris & Pinto are much better 200' defensive game.

Tkachuk - Norris - Batherson - this is a very good line, keep them together
Stutzle - Pinto - Giroux - Pinto's defence & speed is what Stutzle needs on his line
Perron - Greig - Gaudette - hopefully Peron puts together a decent season next yr.
Ostapchuk - Halliday - Amadio/MacEwan/Gregor - allow Halliday to slowly ease into the C spot

I agree in a vacuum, but I worry that Norris/Pinto aren’t going to generate/drive a lot of play as your top 6 C. I’d feel way better about it if we had an upgrade on Norris.

 

[Cosmix]

I'd put Perron with Stü and Giroux when he finally returns. I'd keep Norris, Batherson and Tkachuk together.

I would not put Perron with Stutzle and Giroux. Stutzle needs a winger with speed not two old vets who operate at half speed.

 

[DylanSensFan]

I would not put Perron with Stutzle and Giroux. Stutzle needs a winger with speed not two old vets who operate at half speed.

What he needs it someone who can get the puck on and off their stick and at the goal. What Perron needs before he gets relegated to the third line is some offensive stats.