Confirmed with Link: [OTT/BUT] Josh Norris & JBD traded for Dylan Cozens, Dennis Gilbert & 2026 2nd

[RedWhiteBlackGold]

Yup. I genuinely feel bad for Norris. He was a trooper during the tough years of the rebuild, and when the team is finally in a good position, he gets dealt to the team known with no hope. Now he has to watch all his good buddies make a playoff push.

Tough side of the business

One of those things where if he stayed healthy he would be untouchable and worth the 7.95M. As a fan it sucks to have to deal him but it is what it is.

Wishing him the best in Buffalo and his career.

Feelings aside the dude is getting paid to play a sport. He sleeping good.

 

[R2010]

On top of the injury issues his attitude and casual demeanour was a problem I believe.

But wish him all the best in Buffalo.

I highly doubt that. He was an absolute pro. Every interview with people around the team over the past 5 years has had people emphatic about what a great pro he was.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

I highly doubt that. He was an absolute pro. Every interview with people around the team over the past 5 years has had people emphatic about what a great pro he was.

I don't think that was an issue.. I think its straight forward and up front that they were concerned with is injury history , his contract and the type of player

 

[frightenedinmatenum2]

If you want to look at the positives for Norris, he might be farther away from that guy who tattooed his face on his stomach.

 

[Boud]

I highly doubt that. He was an absolute pro. Every interview with people around the team over the past 5 years has had people emphatic about what a great pro he was.

Always one of the guys that did best in fitness testing as well. Guy is in amazing shape.

 

[Icelevel]

I highly doubt that. He was an absolute pro. Every interview with people around the team over the past 5 years has had people emphatic about what a great pro he was.

Well I saw something and it’s bothered me for a while. I trust my gut. But definitely could be wrong.

 

[Icelevel]

I can't reiterate how much Cozens f***ing sucks. Honestly, the 2nd round pick is more valuable, I'm not even joking. Use it to go get Donato or something.

So this wasn’t a joke?

 

[Icelevel]

I think this is a terrible trade .

Cozens is Bambi on skates, and severely lacks hockey IQ. His contract only saves us close to 800k

Yes Norris is one hit away from retirement but who cares ? He was the better player and if he does get hurt you Robidas island him.

Not a a good trade

Some of these takes. Ouch

 

[NyQuil]

With Norris, one thing that might be concerning, particularly for the PP, is whether he can still bring that rocket of a shot to bear with the wear and tear on his shoulders:

2024-2025

-86.84 mph is his top velocity, 83.78 is the league average for top velocity, he's in the 60th percentile

-86.84 | 83.78 | 60th

2023-2024 (53 games played)

-94.38 | 84.52 | 88th

2022-2023 (8 games played season)

-89.36 | 84.87 | 64th

2021-2022 (35 goals in 66 games season)

-95.25 | 84.09 | 90th

He's 10 mph and 30 percentile points less compared with his big PP goal scoring season.

 

[BigRig4]

With Norris, one thing that might be concerning, particularly for the PP, is whether he can still bring that rocket of a shot to bear with the wear and tear on his shoulders:

2024-2025

-86.84 mph is his top velocity, 83.78 is the league average for top velocity, he's in the 60th percentile

-86.84 | 83.78 | 60th

2023-2024 (53 games played)

-94.38 | 84.52 | 88th

2022-2023 (8 games played season)

-89.36 | 84.87 | 64th

2021-2022 (35 goals in 66 games season)

-95.25 | 84.09 | 90th

He's 10 mph and 30 percentile points less compared with his big PP goal scoring season.

Yeah I don’t think the one-timer, which was his calling card, will ever be a major threat again. It’s a shame cause he could have been a consistent 35-40 goal guy if not for all the shoulder injuries. He still has a really good knack for the net and will be a 25+ goal guy as long as he’s healthy.

 

[ChurchOfAlfie]

If you want to look at the positives for Norris, he might be farther away from that guy who tattooed his face on his stomach.

He was in the trade too actually, that's what the 2nd was for.

 

[DJB]

Some of these takes. Ouch

He played the best I’ve seen him play in a long time. He looked determined and I hope he keeps it up and makes me eat my words

I’ll gladly do so

 

[Burrowsaurus]

The whole “sabres fan coming in peace” thing where they come in unsolicited and dump on the guy they just sent over is super weird lmao.

Well he was bad there so the reviews will be bad

 

[Micklebot]

With Norris, one thing that might be concerning, particularly for the PP, is whether he can still bring that rocket of a shot to bear with the wear and tear on his shoulders:

2024-2025

-86.84 mph is his top velocity, 83.78 is the league average for top velocity, he's in the 60th percentile

-86.84 | 83.78 | 60th

2023-2024 (53 games played)

-94.38 | 84.52 | 88th

2022-2023 (8 games played season)

-89.36 | 84.87 | 64th

2021-2022 (35 goals in 66 games season)

-95.25 | 84.09 | 90th

He's 10 mph and 30 percentile points less compared with his big PP goal scoring season.

Idk that this is a good way to compare seasons, all it takes is one pass landing in the sweet spot to let a 95mph shot rip, and suddenly this year looks the same as last year and 21-21.

I think we used him differently on the PP under Green, and that probably has more to do with the difference than his shoulder. We aren't just looking to feed him one timers the way DJ would.

 

[Burrowsaurus]

He played the best I’ve seen him play in a long time. He looked determined and I hope he keeps it up and makes me eat my words

I’ll gladly do so

For a first game it was good. First games are rarely bad tho.

The nine hits are misleading. Not exactly bone crunching

 

[Agent Zuuuub]

Idk that this is a good way to compare seasons, all it takes is one pass landing in the sweet spot to let a 95mph shot rip, and suddenly this year looks the same as last year and 21-21.

I think we used him differently on the PP under Green, and that probably has more to do with the difference than his shoulder. We aren't just looking to feed him one timers the way DJ would.

That Norris shot was one of the best PP weapons in the league though.

The only reason they would have not wanted to use it is because they might not have wanted him to torque his shoulders so hard and so much.


Otherwise he was automatic from there.

 

[Micklebot]

That Norris shot was one of the best PP weapons in the league though.

The only reason they would have not wanted to use it is because they might not have wanted him to torque his shoulders so hard and so much.


Otherwise he was automatic from there.

Our PP is running at ~23% compared to ~19% that year. You make your pp predictable and even if it's a good weapon it will get shut down.

There's been no real signs that Norris' shoulder is limiting him, career high in hits by a landslide, above his career average at the faceoff dot, issue seems to be he isn't getting into shooting locations as much, but that likely has more to do with his usage, lowest OZ start% of his career and toughest QOC of his career.

 

[NyQuil]

Idk that this is a good way to compare seasons, all it takes is one pass landing in the sweet spot to let a 95mph shot rip, and suddenly this year looks the same as last year and 21-21.

I think we used him differently on the PP under Green, and that probably has more to do with the difference than his shoulder. We aren't just looking to feed him one timers the way DJ would.

Sure, but it hasn’t happened yet.

It’s hard to imagine that in more than half a season, he hasn’t had one opportunity to put a one timer on net with maximum velocity.

 

[Micklebot]

Sure, but it hasn’t happened yet.

It’s hard to imagine that in more than half a season, he hasn’t had one opportunity to put a one timer on net with maximum velocity.

Well, he's has about 2/3rds the shots on the PP compared to last year or the 1/3 of 21-22,

The reality is he only had 4 shots over 90mph in 21-22, out of 172 shots. It's a rare event, so not particularly surprising when you factor in the change in how we set up plays on the PP.

 

[NyQuil]

Well, he's has about 2/3rds the shots on the PP compared to last year or the 1/3 of 21-22,

The reality is he only had 4 shots over 90 in 21-22, out of 172 shots. It's a rare event, so not particularly surprising when you factor in the change in how we set up plays on the PP.

A lot of his value goes away when he’s not scoring at the rate he was when he obtained his contract.

Of the four guys who got long-term deals, his was the one where he had to play at absolute peak level to earn it IMO.

Compared with Tkachuk, Stutzle and Sanderson.

 

[PlayOn]

Our PP is running at ~23% compared to ~19% that year. You make your pp predictable and even if it's a good weapon it will get shut down.

There's been no real signs that Norris' shoulder is limiting him, career high in hits by a landslide, above his career average at the faceoff dot, issue seems to be he isn't getting into shooting locations as much, but that likely has more to do with his usage, lowest OZ start% of his career and toughest QOC of his career.

To be fair, he said himself he had to change the way he takes faceoffs because of his shoulder and puts all his weight in legs now.

I don’t know what that’s proof of, fear of re-injury or a weaker shoulder in general, but it’s at least an indicator that he has had to adjust in some ways. To what extent, we will probably never know.

 

[Crosside]

French media are so piss at Buffalo about this trade. They can believe we have Cozen for Norris. Montreal try to acquire him