Video: After another shoulder surgery and a long rehab, Josh Norris talks about making his pre-season debut tonight when the Senators face the Canadiens in Montreal.
In a perfect world, Josh Norris would never have to answer another question about how his shoulder is feeling and we'd never have to ask.
After today's game day skate in Ottawa, in preparation for Tuesday's pre-season game in Montreal, it must have felt like Groundhog Day when the media stepped up again to Norris's locker, again looking for a reaction to the end of yet another long recovery from yet another shoulder surgery.
"No, I don't have a reaction, I'm just ready to go," Norris said.
Norris wasn't being unpleasant. He's just been ready to move on from injury talk for a long time now. Norris did admit he's excited to finally get a chance to finally get into a game on Tuesday night. It will be his first since his shoulder surgery last winter. He says it's been nice to be back with the team as he eased back in over the past two weeks.
"Yeah, it's been good," Norris said. "I put a lot of work in. Just patient with the process, and knowing what I need to do to be ready to play. I'm at that point now."
After Norris worked out on the first power play with Jake Sanderson, Tim Stutzle, Drake Batherson, and Brady Tkachuk, his "easing back in" days appear to be over. Head coach Travis Green plans to give Norris plenty of ice time tonight.
"Yeah, he'll probably play anywhere between 17-21 minutes, something like that," Green said.
Norris will centre Ridly Greig and David Perron on Tuesday night and set up in his classic one-T position on the right side of the power play.