ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — The Hockey News has Josh Norris of the American Hockey League’s Belleville Senators in line for promotion to the Ottawa Senators next season.
Norris, 20, is the son of St. John’s native and former NHLer Dwayne Norris.
The left-shot pivot was originally San Jose Sharks property, after the Sharks selected him 19th overall in the 2017 draft, but he was traded to Ottawa.
A product of the U.S. National Team Development Program, Norris won a gold medal at the world U18 championship, before twice representing the States in the world juniors. The Americans won bronze in 2018, and silver in 2019.
Dwayne Norris, a Hockey Newfoundland and Labrador Hall of Famer, helped Canada win the gold medal in the 1990 world junior championship.
It was in the 2019 tournament Norris suffered a shoulder injury that eventually required surgery and put a premature end to his sophomore year at the University of Michigan.
Despite playing only a season and a half at Michigan, Norris opted to leave school early, signing a three-year entry level deal with the Senators last spring.
According to Steven Ellis of The Hockey News in an online article this week, Norris needed just one season in the AHL to prove he’s ready for the NHL.
At the time of the league lockdown, Ellis wrote, Norris was leading all AHL rookies with 31 goals and 61 points. Norris, he said, is a high-volume shooter, attacks both ends of the ice and can be relied upon to get the job done with and without the puck.
The future of the AHL's season is unknown, but even if it's over, the league produced high-quality prospects this season. Here's a look at 10 who have a shot at full-time NHL duty next season.https://t.co/Dw6emKVbMS
— The Hockey News (@TheHockeyNews) March 24, 2020
