In a season where Ottawa’s lineup was packed with rookies cutting their teeth at the National Hockey League level, there was one player that stood out above them all.
Tim Stützle showed flashes of being a superstar in the making, Artem Zub was a shockingly reliable defenceman and both Shane Pinto and Jacob Bernard-Docker made solid first impressions late in the season.
But on a team led by young players, it was the rookie campaign of Josh Norris that may have been the most impressive.
And on Tuesday, he was recognized for his efforts with a spot on the NHL’s All-Rookie Team.
On the heels of winning AHL Rookie of the Year and thrust into a first line role right off the hop, Norris made the transition look easy. It was ambitious to put Norris into such a crucial role at such a young age but he settled in nicely as the season rolled along.
He finished the year with 17 goals, tied with Tkachuk and Batherson for second on the team. He had 35 points including 14 on the power play, again, both ranked second on the team. Among all NHL rookies, Norris finished third in scoring and in a tie for second in goals.
And while his offensive contributions were impressive, it was how easily he seemed to pick up the defensive aspects of the game that was particularly impressive.
In a division filled with elite centres, Norris was often handed the toughest match-ups and he seemed to thrive under challenging conditions. This year’s post-season has served as a good reminder of how important it is to have solid two-way centres and Norris seems to be picking that up at a young age.
With a solid rookie season under his belt, the Senators will be expecting Josh Norris to take another big step forward next season. His progress over the last couple seasons suggests he’s more than up to the challenge.
Tampa Bay in four five.
