The Senators’ 2025 playoff chances will be much brighter if Josh Norris can fully overcome his shoulder injuries. But that’s a big “if.”
Former 35-goal scorer Josh Norris finds himself in familiar territory once again. For the second consecutive summer, he is rehabbing from shoulder surgery he underwent during the winter, leaving Ottawa Senators fans wondering if this will be the year he can finally stay healthy. Several questions loom:
- Will he be able to complete a full season without further shoulder issues?
- Can he return to the production expected of a second-line center making a significant salary on a playoff-caliber team?
- Has Shane Pinto now surpassed him on the depth chart?
- How will the Senators respond if Norris injures his shoulder again? Will they resort to surgery once more and hope for the best?
Currently, the Senators are in a holding pattern, hoping for the best outcome. While everyone in Ottawa is rooting for him, it’s hard to feel confident about Norris being both healthy and returning to his elite performance level.
This marks the third time Norris has undergone surgery on that shoulder, having endured multiple injuries in the past, sometimes choosing rehabilitation over surgery. Last season, he was a late arrival but started strong, scoring two goals in his first game and tallying 20 points in his first 26 games. However, he struggled afterwards, managing only 6 points in his next 20, finishing with 30 points in 50 games, translating to a projected 49-point season over 82 games.
In comparison, Shane Pinto played 41 games and had a scoring pace of 54 points. Pinto is also a stronger two-way player and appears more likely to maintain his health.
The NHL landscape shifts rapidly. When Norris’s injuries began, he was Ottawa’s top center; now, even under ideal circumstances, he may end up as the third center or transitioning to a wing position.
Interestingly, three of Norris’s last five games in the 2023-24 season featured his lowest ice times:
- 13:19 in a 4-2 victory over Tampa Bay
- 13:06 in a 3-2 overtime defeat to Florida
- 12:59 in a 6-3 loss to Washington, the game before his injury
Diminished ice time typically doesn’t suggest a player has fully recovered from persistent shoulder problems.
After surgery in late January 2023, Norris was still unable to join training camp nearly eight months later. He underwent his most recent surgery on the same shoulder on February 29, 2024. If he wasn’t ready for camp last year, despite an extra month of recovery, it may be challenging to meet expectations this year.
However, there’s always a possibility that this latest surgery was less severe, allowing him a smoother recovery without the setbacks he faced last year.
General Manager Steve Staios expressed optimism in a recent media session, stating, “We’re really pleased with his progress based on discussions with the medical and conditioning staff. We feel good about how he’s doing and the timeline he’s on. We’ll take the best approach to ensure Josh is ready for the entire season.”
Norris’s mental state is also a concern; it’s natural for him to subconsciously guard the shoulder, which can hinder his performance if he’s worried about taking hits. To excel in the NHL, players must often endure physical challenges, even if they themselves aren’t considered tough players.
The Senators have faced a string of injury misfortunes in recent seasons, perhaps making them due for a break with their fifth highest-paid player, hoping to see him return to peak form, even if it seems unlikely at this moment.
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