Buffalo Sabres Forward Josh Norris Out Week to Week with UpperBody Injury

Buffalo Sabres forward Josh Norris has been ruled out week-to-week with an upper-body injury, head coach Lindy Ruff confirmed Sunday, adding uncertainty to the team’s lineup as they embark on a five-game road trip.

The 26-year-old centre left Wednesday’s 5-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers in the second period after logging just 8:55 of ice time and registering an assist. Norris has since missed Thursday’s win against the Montreal Canadiens and Saturday’s overtime loss to the Minnesota Wild.

Norris, who stands 6ft 2 and weighs 200 pounds, has struggled to maintain consistent health since being acquired from the Ottawa Senators at last season’s trade deadline in exchange for forward Dylan Cozens. He appeared in only three games after joining Buffalo before his 2024-25 campaign ended due to a torn oblique.

Although he recovered over the offseason, Norris suffered an upper-body injury during the Sabres’ season-opening loss to the New York Rangers, forcing him to miss the subsequent 23 games. Despite the setbacks, he has recorded six goals and 17 points in 19 games this season, maintaining a scoring rate that positions him as a key contributor when healthy.

Buffalo currently holds a 26-16-5 record, placing fifth in the Atlantic Division and occupying the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. The team is aiming to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2011, and Norris’ availability will be a critical factor as the Sabres seek to strengthen their position in a tightly contested playoff race.

With a challenging road schedule ahead, Buffalo will need depth scoring and strong goaltending to offset Norris’ absence. How the coaching staff adjusts lines and minutes in his absence could have a direct impact on the team’s playoff outlook and seeding.