“Um, yeah. Yeah, it’s pretty tough… So yeah, I don’t want to… Yeah, it sucks. Losing a guy like that. Obviously, everybody knows how much it means to me… So yeah, next question. Yeah, I mean, just, just our history. Yeah. So I’m just gonna keep short and sweet,” Brady Tkachuk stated, his voice trembling, in the wake of Josh Norris’ trade to the Buffalo Sabres.
After six seasons filled with unforgettable moments, the two best friends were compelled to say goodbye to their shared experiences on the ice, representing the Ottawa Senators. Brady’s expression conveyed a depth of emotion that left fans fully aware of the pain he was experiencing. However, given the dynamic nature of the NHL, trades of this sort are inevitable as franchises navigate their business dealings. Nonetheless, feelings continue to persist unchanged.
In episode 555 of Spittin’ Chiclets on YouTube, Senators center Tim Stutzle candidly discussed Norris’ trade to the Sabres, remarking, “Yeah, obviously it was tough. Like, right after it happened, it was tough. I drove him to the airport, too, so it was pretty hard. We packed all his shit with a bunch of the guys who came over. But obviously we realized it’s part of the business, and obviously he’s still in contact, and wish him all the best. And it’s obviously great having Cozi and Gilbert, and they’re two great guys, so they’re awesome playing cards together on the plane as well with Cozi.”
The German hockey star has been with the Senators for an extended period, and simultaneously, Norris was also been a member of the team. Similar to Tkachuk, they have shared multiple seasons together, and the experiences they forged both on and off the ice are memories that Stutzle will hold dear for a lifetime. Additionally, he shared insights on the trade and expressed his understanding of the NHL’s business dynamics. And would you believe it? He expresses a notable admiration for the two new teammates.
Sure enough, the Senators acquired defender Dennis Gilbert, forward Dylan Cozens, and a 2026 second-round selection from the Sabres. According to Stutzle, he has been getting along well with his new teammates. From that viewpoint, he remarked, “He’s a great guy, adapted really quick to the group, and we were really fortunate to have him. He’s a great player. Yeah, but in the end, it obviously sucked to see a teammate go on a close friend, but that’s a team decision. We can’t really do anything about it, so we’re really happy to have Cozi and Gilbert.”
Undoubtedly, the departure of Norris has impacted many players who shared a close relationship with him. However, it appears they are quickly forging connections with the newcomers in the Senators’ locker room. What did Norris have to say about his trade to the Sabres?
His reaction after becoming Brady Tkachuk’s former teammate in the NHL
Josh Norris spent six seasons wearing the Ottawa Senators jersey, and sharing the ice with Brady Tkachuk. However, the situation shifted dramatically the moment he was traded to the Buffalo Sabres. Throughout six seasons, he participated in 236 regular season games with the Senators, achieving 90 goals, 66 assists, and a total of 156 points.
Norris donned the no. 37 jersey while in Ottawa but made the switch to no. 9 upon joining the Sabres, declaring, “New number, new me.” Without a doubt, it was accompanied by a broad grin, as the forward eagerly anticipated embarking on an entirely new chapter in the NHL.
“It was a weird day yesterday for sure, a lot of hard goodbyes in Ottawa. But I’m really excited to be here. It’s always a team that’s not easy to play against when they’re clicking, and they have a lot of really good pieces. I’m just excited to get going here. It’s a fresh start for me and like I said, I’m really excited to be here,” Norris remarked, emphasizing the challenges he faced with his exit from Ottawa. However, the center remained optimistic, eagerly anticipating the opportunities that lay ahead as he put on that Sabres jersey.
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