For the past two seasons (at the very least) the cry from disgruntled Ottawa Senators followers growing exhausted with another playoff-less spring was essentially – ‘Gotta start tinkering with the team’s core!’
Tinker, meet trade deadline.
Gone on this Friday is core, core-member Josh Norris. One of captain Brady Tkachuk’s absolute best friends, Norris is headed to Atlantic Division rival and fellow playoff-missers Buffalo. The 25-year-old sometimes centre, sometimes winger, fetched 24-year-old forward Dylan Cozens.
Also involved in the swap are coach Travis Green non-favourite Jacob Bernard-Docker, who never really got a shot under the new coach this season. Meantime Ottawa landed a second-round pick and physical but unspectacular defenceman Dennis Gilbert.
Evaluation?
Well, there’s lots to pick at and chew on here.
If you’re Ottawa, you’re counting on a new locale rejuvenating Cozens who scored 31 goals back in 2022-23. Since then, the sturdy winger’s totals have dropped – 18 in 2023-24 and just 11 so far in 2024-25. Gilbert adds some size and grit to the back end in Ottawa.
The adding in of that second-rounder (in 2026) could prove beneficial if the Sabres continue to struggle. It would be a high selection, if that’s the case, and given that ’26 is forecasted to be deep, the Senators might just find something hiding in the weeds.
Ottawa also forfeits its first-round selection either this summer or next (in the Evgenii Dadonov fiasco), so it’s a bit of a Band-Aid.
Norris could be the real story here and it could go either one way . . . or the other.
He’s a proven scorer – 35 in 2022 which netted him a big term, big money contract from then-GM Pierre Dorion.
He’s also a proven and frequent-flyer in the injury department. This season though, Norris has stayed relatively healthy and was tied for second on the team in scoring with 20 goals.
From the Sabres’ perspective, they were talking shake-up again this year and Cozens was one of the more sought-after chips on their roster.
Tkachuk was asked after team practice Friday about the loss of Norris.
“It’s pretty tough. It sucks losing a guy like that,” Tkachuk said. “Obviously everyone knows how much he means to me . . . I just spent the last little bit with him. Got to take advantage of every minute throughout the rest of the day.
“It’s the unfortunate reality of it being a business. We’re getting back important pieces that are really going to help us. I mean, it sucks. It’s part of it. But we’re going to welcome (Cozens and Gilbert) with open arms.”
Late in the day, Ottawa acquired forward Fabian Zetterlund (17 goals), a fourth-round pick (2025) and AHLer Tristen Robins from San Jose for Zack Ostapchuk, Noah Gregor and a second-rounder (2025).
In a wild chase for the post-season, Tkachuk and crew won’t have much time to drink it all in and adjust.
The Senators host the New York Rangers Saturday afternoon (12:30 pm) with the clubs deadlocked at 67 points.
thegrossgame@yahoo.com
