Interim head coach Jacques Martin announced Monday morning that Ottawa Senators’ center Josh Norris had shoulder surgery last week, bringing an end to his season. The 24-year-old player’s left shoulder was injured in a collision with Nashville Predators’ forward Cole Smith on February 27, as Norris tried to maneuver around the net. Additional details will be provided later, Martin said, but he refrained from further elaboration, delivering news that both the team and its fans hoped not to hear.
Norris is undergoing what is believed to be his third surgery on the same shoulder. The initial surgery took place after the 2019 World Junior Championship when he sustained an injury while playing for the United States. He then had to undergo another procedure before joining the Senators on an entry-level contract. Despite playing all 56 games in his rookie season, Norris injured his shoulder again in the following season, causing him to miss a significant amount of game time. After a brief return, Norris injured his shoulder once more, leading to consultation with multiple doctors and specialists. This resulted in him being sidelined until January, returning to play only a few games before being shut down again. It was decided that Norris needed a second surgery, which ultimately caused him to miss the start of the season. Despite initially expecting a quick return, Norris ended up missing the start of the season, including the team’s first three games.
Norris has faced another setback in his young career, missing a significant portion of games due to surgery. This will give him the opportunity to properly rehab and come back stronger next season, according to the Senators’ interim head coach. Dr. Peter Millett performed the surgery after Norris sought a second opinion. A former teammate, Vlad Tarasenko, underwent multiple shoulder surgeries but bounced back to have a successful season with the St. Louis Blues. Despite the challenges, Norris has the potential to make a strong comeback like Tarasenko did.
