The Sabres are looking to turn the page as their offseason started early yet again. They already were looking to turn the page, after the trade deadline this March. They made several moves before March 7th which may set them up for next season.
One such move. brought center Josh Norris to Buffalo via a trade from Ottawa. He suffered an oblique injury and missed the final 18 games of the year. He played in only three games for the Sabres this season.
In the three games he was on the ice, he provided an obvious spark scoring a goal and adding an assist. He also won over 50% of faceoffs during his time with the Sabres.
His assist helped lead Buffalo to 3-2 win over Edmonton. "The play was a perfect pass sent over to Tage Thompson for the goal," said head coach Lindy Ruff, of Norris's play. “Great play. It was a great skate, and it didn’t look like for a second, he was going to get there but he just got to the puck and got it over to ‘Tommer’ and ‘Tommer’ finished.”
It is the kind of play that the Sabres are going to need for next season. Norris could be a player that would be a key for Buffalo as they enter the offseason.
Norris is currently signed with Buffalo through 2030.
He is here for the foreseeable future and may have a chip on his shoulder after the Sens dealt him at the deadline. The Sabres seeing him as a valuable part of their future plans, may be why he was rested for the final part of this past season.
Tage Thompson had an amazing year but outside of him and Alex Tuch, the Sabres did not have a lot of fire power or steady play. If Norris able to stay healthy, he may be a missing piece which can get Buffalo over the hump.
In his career, he has over 90 goals and as a center has won an impressive 52.5% of his faceoffs throughout his career. It is the kind of play that Buffalo will need from him entering next season.
He spoke with reporters, after the last game of the season. Saying, "He felt good", and seemed to be recovering from the injury well.
As the offseason unfolds, the Sabres fanbase don't have to look far to find another leader both on and off the ice than Norris.