The Norris Division: Ottawa Senators Get A Boost After Breaking Up Josh Norris's Line

Part of coaching is making adjustments or tweaks when things are not working efficiently, and there is room for improvement.

It is commonplace on social media to see coaches take flak for the moves they don't make, but in many instances, they should also earn some praise for the ones they do that work out.

One decision that appears to be benefiting the Senators right away is Travis Green's decision to flip Josh Norris and Tim Stützle.

One of the obvious areas of concern for the Senators through their first dozen games was the five-on-five play of the team's second line.

It is not like Norris hasn't been contributing. In his 15 games this season, he has contributed six goals and 10 points. The underlying numbers are of concern, however.

In 93 minutes and 49 seconds of ice time, the Senators generated 52.01 percent of the shots (CF%), 48.44 percent of the shots on goal (SF%), 51.02 percent of the total goals (GF%), and 42.22 percent of the expected goals (xGF%) when Norris was on the ice with Drake Batherson and Claude Giroux.

Those numbers may not be highly alarming, but they are pedestrian. Norris' numbers, in particular, were worrisome.

Of the Senators skaters who have logged more than 100 minutes of five-on-five ice time, Norris is 11th in points per 60. His shots per 60 rate of 5.41 is the 12th-highest on the team. His individual expected goal rate is the 9th. To his credit, Norris scored on the chances he received. His 0.95 goals per 60 rate is the fourth-highest on the team.

In fairness, it is not like there is not some readily explainable context for the early season struggles. Injuries have limited Norris to 58 games across the last two seasons. Knowing that, it is only reasonable to assume that it would take Norris time to get acclimated and return to a level resembling his pre-injury days. It was a problem that probably also got compounded because Norris, like the rest of his teammates, is adjusting to a new head coach and playing structure.

"Greener's been very clear with the identity he wants our team to have," Norris explained after his team's morning skate. "The next step is the internal identity that we want to have. We're starting to figure that out, and he's been a great leader for us so far.

"He makes the right adjustments. We'll shuffle lines sometimes if it's not going mid-game or just saying things at certain times. I think the last two games especially, you can see the way we want our game to be consistently. It won't be like that every night, but that's what we want to be known as. It is a hardworking team that is not easy to play against on any given night."

That context is essential, but it is fair to say that the Senators needed more from Norris and his linemates - especially when considering the talent and how much the Senators have invested in this combination of players, the team needed more from that line. And, the longer the season goes on and these five-on-five shortcomings endured, the easier it is to wonder whether a short-term problem could develop into a longer-term predicament.

Travis Green switched his top two centres in the third period of last week's 4-2 loss to the New York Islanders. The head coach admitted after this morning's practice that his staff contemplated making that change sooner.

"I think a lot gets made out of line juggling," Green told reporters. "I believe that sometimes just changing something sparks a guy or playing with new linemates gives a guy a little bit of a boost.

"I think you could switch around six or seven of our forwards and you could get results. At certain points, the coaches look to find a spark, and you hope it sticks. (We) kind of had it in the back of our minds for a game or two before that."

The decision has worked out. Through two games with Brady Tkachuk and Ridly Greig, Norris' new line has clicked.

The Senators have not scored a goal with them on the ice together, but they have generated 73.12 percent of the shots (CF%), 76.85 percent of the shots on goal (SF%), 87.14 percent of the expected goals according to Evolving-Hockey.

Norris was quick to point out that all four lines have been contributing recently.

"I think you could say that about our line," Norris explained. "But, I think all four lines (are rolling). Sometimes just a little bit of shuffle is a good thing. It just gives you kind of a different look.

"I think the shuffle between our line and Timmy's line, the guys seem to have responded. I think there's instant chemistry already, and I think all of us are just working. That's the foundation of our game. (Outwork the opposition), and then our skill takes over."

Norris is very familiar with playing with Brady Tkachuk. The captain played predominantly with him during the centre's breakout 2021-22 season, in which he scored 35 goals.

In order to fit with Brady, Norris believes it is important to give his winger more space to operate.

"Just being aware of what he's good at and not taking space away from him," explained Norris. "Obviously, he likes to protect the puck and hold onto it. Just give him his space when it's there, and if he needs help, then I'll use my hockey sense and go help him.

"He obviously does a lot of really good things. I'm excited to be back with him. It's been fun the last couple of games, and he's been playing really well."

Norris also had complimentary words to say about Ridly Greig.

"He's obviously very skilled, but just a hard-nosed guy and someone who's easy to play with. I love having him on the wing with us."

Playing with straight-line players also creates a level of comfort through their predictability.

"All three of us sort of have the same mindset in terms of just playing a simple game," said Norris. "But, we're guys who can make plays and score.

"All three of us aren't afraid to finish hits and stay on the right side of the puck to make the right play."

I never want to get too excited, considering the extremely small sample size of data. In light of the Norris line's numbers, there will inevitably be some natural regression anyway, but it is only encouraging to see the chemistry and on-ice results occur right away.

Watching Norris over the first dozen games, he was producing, but there was undoubtedly another level for his game to reach. I'm hopeful his new linemates will help him get there faster.

For more Ottawa Senators coverage, check out The Hockey News Ottawa.

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