For hockey fans, NHL trade deadline day can feel like a Bizarro version of Christmas morning—you’re thrilled to get that new toy, but at the same time, you’re forced to part with an old favourite.
That was the feeling for Ottawa Senators fans on Saturday, as GM Steve Staios made moves on Friday that stirred up a mix of emotions.
The day kicked off with the unexpected departure of Josh Norris, an Ottawa fan favourite, who was traded to the Buffalo Sabres. His reaction was one of surprise, as he hadn’t seen the trade coming.
“Yeah, it was, uh, kind of just happened pretty quickly yesterday before practice. It was a weird day yesterday for sure,” Norris told the Buffalo media. “A lot of hard goodbyes in Ottawa. But I’m really excited to be here.”
The transition from a team that’s finally in a legitimate playoff chase to one that’s about to extend its NHL record playoff slump to 14 years isn’t lost on Norris. However, he’s using this as an opportunity to reset his career.
“Obviously, it’s a different situation, but I think just for me, it’s a fresh start,” Norris said. “The last couple of years have been tough with injuries, but I’ve managed to stay fairly healthy this year. And I really appreciate the opportunity that they’re giving me.”
Despite another tough season for the Sabres, Norris remains excited about his new team’s potential. And why wouldn’t he be? Buffalo is filled with talent and won both games against the Senators this season by a combined score of 9-1.
“It’s always a team that’s not easy to play against when they’re clicking and they have a lot of really good pieces. And I’m just excited to get going here; now it’s a fresh start for me,” Norris said.
Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff sounded disappointed at the loss of Dylan Cozens in the deal but also admitted that the player couldn’t quite find his game this season. As for Norris, he’s always been impressed with him.
“He’s a guy with high speed, high skill level, and good in the face off dot,” Ruff said. “His IQ in his own end is very good. That, coupled with the speed that he can bring the puck out of his zone. He’s had good numbers. You look at all parts of his game and you really feel like you’re getting a real good player.”
Ruff’s assistant coach, Seth Appert, would have some good intel on Norris as both a player and a person, having coached him in the U.S. National Team Development Program.
“Yeah, (Appert) actually met me at the airport late (Friday) night when I got in. So, it was good to see his face,” Norris said.
Wearing his new number 13 (Zach Benson has 9), Norris made his Sabres debut on Saturday in a 4-0 loss to the Florida Panthers, and the club certainly set him up for success. He played over 20 minutes, centring their top line with Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch. Norris also got 2:48 on the power play and registered one shot on the night.
While Senators fans felt the sting of losing one of their own, they quickly had a new reason to cheer when Cozens debuted for the Sens on Saturday in their important overtime win against the New York Rangers. Cozens was noticeable and involved all night, contributing with his first assist while adding nine hits. For his efforts, he was named the game’s second star.
All in all, it was an emotional weekend in Ottawa, but now there’s a playoff run to focus on. As for the Sabres, no one in Ottawa cares to see their division rival have success, but they’ll always have a soft spot for Josh Norris.
By Steve Warne
Site Editor The Hockey News Ottawa
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