BUFFALO – Sabres center Josh Norris experienced an unusual summer. For the first time in three years, he was healthy enough to enjoy a normal offseason of training.
“You kind of forget what it’s like to have a fully healthy summer and have to worry about anything physically,” Norris said following an early session of training camp in KeyBank Center. “So, yeah, I’m ready to go.”
Injuries have dogged Norris, 26, for years, limiting him to just 180 games over the last four seasons. After battling shoulder problems with the Ottawa Senators, he arrived in Buffalo before the trade deadline last season trying to play through an oblique injury.
Following his third outing on March 12, the Sabres, who dealt center Dylan Cozens to pry him away from Ottawa, shut Norris down for the season.
So the first days of camp have likely reinforced to the Sabres the potentially dynamic presence a healthy Norris gives them.
“We walked through a couple of those one-on-one full-ice (drills) yesterday, you saw him blow by a couple of our defenseman,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said following Friday’s practice. “(We) didn’t really get to see that last year because of his injury.”
Right now, the 6-foot-2, 196-pound Norris, who said he felt healthy again in early May, is brimming with confidence after simply focusing on hockey for four months.
“It’s kind of freeing mentally to just be able to go out there and work on my game and not have to worry about anything,” he said.
In Saturday afternoon’s 5-2 preseason win over the Detroit Red Wings, Norris pivoted the top line, skating alongside Zach Benson and Tage Thompson, and also played on the power-play and penalty-kill units.
Fourteen seconds into the second period, Thompson beat goalie Sebastian Cossa from the left circle after Norris won a faceoff. He also assisted on Thompson’s power-play goal 37 seconds into the third period.
Later in the period, Norris zoomed in alone on goal and drew a tripping penalty before scoring an empty-net goal to seal the game and register his third point.
“He’s extremely dynamic,” Thompson said after the Sabres improved to 3-1-0 in the preseason. “I think the first thing you can see is he can fly on the ice. I’ve enjoyed playing with him. I think we’re starting to build some good chemistry, just kind of reading off each other.”
Of course, Norris, who scored a career-high 35 goals in 66 games in 2021-22, is known for his offensive exploits. But his two-way game and faceoff ability – he won 11 of 14 in Tuesday’s 2-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets – make him one of the Sabres’ most valuable assets.
“We got a guy that can be our best two-way centerman, a guy that can take key draws,” Ruff said. “… Penalty killing he can be a top guy, power play he can be a top guy and he’s an elite skater.”
Captain Rasmus Dahlin and rookie defenseman Radim Mrtka scored the Sabres’ other goals. Goalie Alex Lyon made 26 saves.
Notes: The Sabres on Saturday announced they’re continuing their current lease at KeyBank with Erie County through September 2031. They had the option of opting out by Tuesday or extending it an additional five years. … Sabres winger Alex Tuch, who missed the first two days of camp with an undisclosed injury, made his preseason debut. … Norris switched from No. 13 to No. 9 – he worked out a deal to take the digit from Benson – said it’s a number he’s comfortable with. “A number is kind of part of your identity,” he said. … Former Sabres defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker, who was acquired from Ottawa in the Norris deal, played for Detroit. The Sabres did not give Bernard-Docker a qualifying offer following last season. … The Sabres announced a crowd of 11,872 fans.