Buffalo Sabres 2025-26 Player Grades: Josh Norris

Though the season hasn’t technically ended, the Buffalo Sabres have been busy. General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen has shown he can be aggressive in pursuing deals, not to mention re-signing head coach Lindy Ruff to a new two-year deal.

With the draft looming at the end of June, it is time to take a look back at the 2025-26 season. We’ll be giving each player grades, and today’s subject is one of the more divisive among Sabres fans. Today, we’ll get into the weeds with Josh Norris.

Production

“When he’s healthy…” may become the singular line used to describe Norris’ career. When he was acquired by the Sabres, it felt like the team had upgraded – so long as Norris could shake the injury bug and remain on the ice.

Once again, Norris had injury troubles. He suited up in just 44 games, his lowest total since 2022-23 and he hasn’t played more than 56 games in any season since 2021-22. When he was in the lineup, Norris scored 13 times and had 34 points, showing he can be a very good offensive player. But if he can’t stay on the ice, what kind of impact is he having, really?

Intangibles

Norris was also a plus-11 in those 44 games, underscoring his abilities as a quality two-way center. Perhaps the most underrated aspect of Norris’ game is that he can play a responsible 200-foot game while bringing speed and offensive skill at the same time.

He’s the kind of player that can really play anywhere in the top nine, though given his contract you would hope he can be an effective second-line center at the very worst. The question is: “Can he return to his 35-goal status or have we seen his peak?”

Overall Grade: C+

His points-per-game rate is a positive thing, but it is hard to feel good about his 2025-26 season. He was hurt in both the regular season and playoffs, making it feel like a pipe dream that he can actually stay healthy and play the majority of a season.

When he’s healthy, he’s a very good second-line center that can deliver at both ends of the ice. The reality is that he’s going to miss a good chunk every season, and you have to hope that your depth can fill in those gaps.

2026-27 Will Be a Pivotal Season for Norris

This coming season isn’t necessarily a make-or-break campaign for Norris simply because his contract is too big to easily move. The Sabres need him to be a key contributor and can’t afford to work around him if he’s underperforming, especially with Alex Tuch likely moving on.

Another season with major injury woes could lead the Sabres to attempt to find an out. At that point, his value may be so low that the Sabres will need to give him away. It could set back the momentum the Sabres have developed over the last year and hinder the franchise going forward.