Josh Norris, Sabres Center, Out Indefinitely
Buffalo Sabres’ top-line center Josh Norris will be out indefinitely with an upper-body injury, coach Lindy Ruff announced Saturday. Ruff indicated that Norris will be absent for “a significant period of time.” The news was announced before Buffalo’s game in Boston, two days after the player was injured in a 4-0 loss to the New York Rangers in the season opener. The coach had previously indicated that the injury is new, but similar to an oblique tear that prevented Norris from playing during the last month of last season. Norris suffered the injury with about five minutes left in the game, after falling on the ice after losing a face-off against Mika Zibanejad in front of the Sabres’ bench.This is the latest setback for 26-year-old Norris, who has undergone three operations to correct a shoulder problem since his college days at Michigan. In addition, it represents a hard blow for the Sabres, who acquired Norris in a trade that sent Dylan Cozens and Dennis Gilbert to Ottawa in March.
Norris has surpassed 20 goals on three occasions, including 35 in the 2021-22 season. However, injuries have prevented him from completing a full season during his five-year career.
