Buffalo’s Surge Continues as Josh Norris Nears Return, Plus Key NHL Roster Updates Ahead of Olympic Freeze
The Buffalo Sabres are rolling-and not just squeaking by. Winners of 18 of their last 22 games, they’ve become one of the NHL’s most dangerous teams over the past month and a half. And they’ve done it despite missing one of their key pieces down the middle.
Josh Norris, sidelined since January 14 with a rib injury, is trending in the right direction. Head coach Lindy Ruff updated reporters recently, saying Norris is now considered day-to-day-a promising sign for a Sabres team that could use his two-way presence down the stretch. Defenseman Jacob Bryson, who landed on injured reserve on January 23, is also listed as day-to-day.
While Tage Thompson remains the face of Buffalo’s forward group, Norris has had stretches this season where he’s looked every bit as impactful. In just 19 games, the 26-year-old has racked up 17 points, including a particularly hot stretch in early December when he tallied seven points in four games before another injury setback.
It’s been a bit of a stop-and-start tenure for Norris in Buffalo since arriving from Ottawa in a deadline deal that sent Dylan Cozens and a second-round pick the other way. But when he’s healthy, he’s been everything the Sabres hoped for-and then some.
Buffalo took a gamble in acquiring Norris and his $7.95 million AAV contract that runs through the end of the decade. So far, the return on investment has been solid, even if availability has been an issue.
He’s only suited up for 22 games in a Sabres uniform, but the upside is clear. As he inches closer to a return, the big question becomes whether he can stay on the ice consistently.
That’s the storyline to watch as Buffalo eyes a playoff push.
Top Goalie Prospect Joshua Ravensbergen Chooses NCAA Route Over Turning Pro
In other hockey news, one of the sport’s top young goaltenders is taking a different path to the pros. Joshua Ravensbergen, a 2025 first-round pick of the San Jose Sharks, is leaving the WHL’s Prince George Cougars to join Michigan State University next season.
It’s a notable move for the 19-year-old, who was eligible to begin his pro career in the AHL or ECHL next season. Instead, he’s opting for the NCAA route, following in the footsteps of Red Wings prospect Trey Augustine-another high-end goalie talent who’s made major strides with the Spartans. Augustine, now in his third season at Michigan State, has been dominant, posting a .938 save percentage in 17 games this season and earning top goalie honors in his conference last year.
Ravensbergen’s decision not only gives him more time to develop in a competitive college environment, but it also suggests that Augustine could be preparing to turn pro this summer. For San Jose, it’s a long-term play that could pay dividends down the line.
Olympic Break Roster Freeze: What NHL Teams Need to Know
With the Olympic break fast approaching, NHL front offices are working under a new set of roster rules that will shape how they manage their teams in the coming weeks.
A league-wide roster freeze kicks in on the afternoon of February 4 and runs through February 23. During that time, no trades are allowed, and teams will face limitations on how they can move players between the NHL and AHL.
Here’s the key: Players who are waivers-exempt can only be reassigned to the minors if they’ve played in fewer than 16 of their team’s last 20 games before the freeze, or if they’ve been on the NHL roster for fewer than 80 days as of January 21. It’s a subtle but important distinction that could influence how teams handle fringe roster players or prospects right before the break.
Waivers are still in play during the freeze, but there’s a wrinkle-if a player is waived after a team’s final game before the freeze, they don’t have to report to the minors until February 17. That gives teams a bit of flexibility but also adds a layer of strategy to how they handle roster decisions over the next week.
With the trade deadline looming not long after the Olympic break, expect a flurry of activity as teams use this window to fine-tune their rosters-and position themselves for a second-half push.