The Buffalo Sabres put together a really strong 2025-26 season, but it ended in a 3-2 Game 7 loss to the Montreal Canadiens in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. It’s a tough way to go out, especially after the run they were on, but it also capped off a year that quietly became a major turning point for former Ottawa Senators forward Josh Norris.
When Ottawa traded Norris to Buffalo, there were real questions around his health and whether his game would ever fully hold up again. Multiple shoulder surgeries had stalled his progress in Ottawa, and at that point it felt like the conversation around him was less about upside and more about durability.
That changed pretty quickly in Buffalo. Norris didn’t just find his footing; he became a real difference-maker in a Sabres lineup that ended up winning the Atlantic Division with 50 victories. Away from the pressure and constant scrutiny he dealt with in Ottawa, he settled into a top-six role, played reliable 200-foot hockey, and showed that the offensive instincts were still very much there. Which helped him land the role as the first-line center alongside Tage Thompson and Zach Benson.
The playoff run had a bit of everything. Buffalo got through the Boston Bruins in six games, then ran straight into a heavy series with Montreal. They managed to keep their season alive with an 8-3 win in Game 6, which forced a Game 7 back on home ice, but in the end they just couldn’t find that last goal when it mattered most.
Even with the ending, this year ends up being a clear win for Norris. He rebuilt his value, played a full season at a high level, and became a real piece of a team that took a major step forward. For Ottawa, watching it from a distance probably brings mixed feelings, but it also reinforces what they once had when he was healthy and playing with confidence.
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