Josh Norris Injury Puts Sabres' Playoff Push in Question
The Buffalo Sabres have been riding a wave lately, clawing their way back into the Eastern Conference playoff picture with a 15-2-1 run that turned heads around the league. But as any NHL team knows, momentum can be a fragile thing-especially when injuries start piling up. And right now, the Sabres are facing a big one.
Center Josh Norris, who’s been a key piece in Buffalo’s resurgence, is now considered week-to-week with a rib injury sustained during last Wednesday’s win over the Flyers. Initially thought to be a short-term issue, head coach Lindy Ruff confirmed the setback is more serious than first expected.
That’s a tough blow for a team that’s been thriving with Norris in the lineup. Since his return earlier in the season, Buffalo has gone 13-6 when he’s suited up, using him and Tage Thompson on separate lines to stretch opposing defenses and create a more dynamic offensive look.
Without him? They’ve been a middling 13-11-5, including that rough stretch in October and early November where they dropped eight of nine.
And this isn’t new territory for Norris, unfortunately. The 26-year-old has had a career marked by promise-and pain.
After being part of the blockbuster Erik Karlsson trade back in 2018, Norris showed flashes of elite scoring ability, including a 35-goal campaign with Ottawa. But staying on the ice has been the challenge.
He missed 16 games in 2022-23, sat out the first eight games of that same season with a shoulder injury, and was limited to just 50 games in 2023-24 due to another shoulder issue.
Then came the trade to Buffalo. Norris was acquired from the Senators in exchange for Dylan Cozens, a move that signaled Buffalo’s belief in his upside. But last season, he managed just three games in a Sabres uniform before being shut down again.
This year, it looked like things were finally turning. Even after missing seven weeks with an oblique injury suffered in the season opener against the Rangers, Norris returned and made an immediate impact. His presence helped stabilize Buffalo’s forward group and gave them a legitimate second scoring line-something they’ve lacked in recent seasons.
But now, as the Sabres try to keep pace in a tightly contested Eastern Conference playoff race, they’ll have to do it without one of their most important players. Monday’s 2-1 loss to Carolina was the second defeat in three games, and the pressure is mounting. Every point matters in a playoff chase, and missing Norris for any extended stretch could be the difference between sneaking into the postseason or watching from home.
Buffalo’s depth will be tested. And while there’s hope that Norris won’t be out too long, the reality is clear: the Sabres are a better team when he’s in the lineup. How they navigate this stretch without him could define their season.