The priority for Norris this season is staying healthy after his second shoulder surgery in as many years.
With the number of shoulder injuries Josh Norris has had in his young career, many have suggested it might be wise for the Ottawa Senators to shift him to the wing this season. As a winger, Norris wouldn't have to endure the stress on the shoulder required to go hard in a faceoff.
Having said that, it's not like wingers are out there playing no-contact. Wingers spend a lot of time along the boards where even the cleanest opponents don't mind smashing their shoulder into the glass.
The first step is ensuring that Norris is healthy. Then it's identifying where he'll play, which will have a ripple effect throughout the roster.
"Right now, for me, I see (Norris) as a centreman," Green told TSN 1200 radio on Friday morning.
In general, Green says he likes having natural centres on the roster because he believes most of them can seamlessly transition to the wing when needed, as opposed to the other way around. So while Green is leaning toward Norris staying at centre, he's also planning to keep all options open.
"I've watched Josh play as a younger player," Green said. "Obviously, he's had some injuries the last few years. I watched some of him last season. He's a phenomenal skater who can generate a lot of speed. I've liked him at centre. I know he's capable of playing the wing as well. And again, that's an option.
"I'm not opposed to trying anything."
No matter where Norris plays, it will be interesting to see if he's capable of getting back to his 2021-22 form, when he scored 35 goals in 66 games. Over a full season, that's a 43 goal pace. That seasonal performance was what landed him his big $63.6 million contract through 2029-30.
But that performance has also been the outlier, the only one that's even come close to justifying his price tag.
Both of Norris' two seasons since have ended prematurely due to shoulder injuries. But he did play 56 games last year and managed just 17 goals. Over a full season, that's only a 24 goal pace. And it wasn't just the change in stats that was noticeable. Norris didn't play with the same fire he had two years earlier.
If Josh Norris and Tim Stutzle, the team's top two centres, can stay healthy and restore their offensive swagger and return to being 40-goal threats, what a massive difference that will make in 2024-25.
Be sure to Bookmark The Hockey News Ottawa for more Sens coverage.