The Buffalo Sabres are off to a respectable 4-3-1 start, but one name is already bubbling up as a possible move if the team decides to tinker with its roster: Josh Norris.
In a recent piece for The Athletic, Matt Fairburn pointed to Norris as Buffalo’s top “under-the-radar” trade candidate to monitor this season. Fairburn noted that Norris has already seen his role shift after opening the year on the top line and then spending time on the fourth line.
“Norris recently spent time on the fourth line after he started the season on the top line," Fairburn wrote. "He’s off to a sluggish start and has been injured often during his Buffalo tenure. His $7.95 million cap hit for three seasons after this one and his 10-team no-trade list could be roadblocks, but his reduced role is worth watching.”
Norris only arrived in Buffalo in 2024-25, but his name has already surfaced in trade speculation before. That makes some sense given where things stand. He may not be the cleanest fit on the Sabres’ current roster, and if the right offer comes along, Buffalo could have reason to listen.
There’s also a straightforward hockey angle here: Norris could carry real value in a larger deal. Last season, he put up 13 goals and 34 points in 44 games for Buffalo, production that looked like that of a top-six forward when he was healthy enough to stay on the ice.
This season has started much more slowly. Through eight games, the eight-year NHL veteran has one goal and one assist, and the cold stretch is part of why his name is one to watch. Still, his track record suggests there’s enough ability there for him to rebound if he can put this rough start behind him.
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Sabres Face A Goaltending Decision That Could Change Everything
Connor Hellebuycks situation in Winnipeg has quickly become one of the most notable goaltending storylines in the league, and Buffalo is right in the middle of it. The Jets have started the season without him after he requested a trade and did not report to training camp, forcing Winnipeg to weigh its options before a Friday deadline as the market for elite goalies takes shape.
For the Sabres, this is the kind of opportunity that can alter a seasons trajectory if the talks get serious. NHL insider Elliotte Friedman has placed Buffalo among the clubs linked to the netminder, and with several teams still evaluating their goaltending needs, the coming days could determine whether the Sabres stay on the outside of the conversation or suddenly find themselves in the thick of it. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Start Is Putting Real Pressure On Jarmo To Make A Move
Buffalos rough start has already turned the conversation from patience to pressure, and it is putting the front office in a spot where a meaningful move feels less like a luxury and more like a necessity. With general manager Jarmo Kekalainen holding salary-cap flexibility and a stockpile of draft picks, the Sabres have the kind of assets that can at least open the door to a blockbuster if he decides the roster needs a major jolt.
The areas drawing the most attention are obvious ones: goaltending and the top six, where the group still needs more impact if it is going to climb back into the race. The challenge now is timing, because the longer the skid lingers, the harder it becomes to ignore the idea that Buffalo may need to swing big rather than settle for a smaller fix. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Face One Problem That Could Undercut Their Fast Start
Owen Power and Jack Quinn have been two of the early bright spots in Buffalos fast start, giving the Sabres encouraging production and steady two-way play as the season gets rolling. For a team trying to build momentum early, that kind of emergence matters, especially with Jason Zucker nearing a return and the blue line still sorting through injuries to Matt Grzelcyk and Rasmus Dahlin.
The concern is what has happened when Buffalo has had to kill penalties. The Sabres have given up power-play goals in most games so far, and those lapses have repeatedly undercut otherwise solid stretches of play. Alex Lyon is also dealing with uncertainty after an injury setback, leaving Buffalo with a few moving parts to manage just as the schedule starts to tighten. [Read more 🡒]