The worst is confirmed for Josh Norris...

Josh Norris may have known right away that his shoulder injury was worst than fans would have ever imagined… On Saturday, when Norris headed for the dressing room in the third period after suffering an upper-body injury, he kicked something in frustration. As he took a face-off in the Ottawa zone, Norris fell to the ice after taking the draw with little or no contact. He was able to get off, but exited the game and didn’t return.

The team didn’t know how bad the injury was, however on Wednesday, the worst news possible came as head coach D.J. Smith cannot even confirm if his star player will return this season.

The Senators are still debating surgery option. A decision is expected to come in the next few days, but it sure sounds like the team will be fortunate to have Norris return at some point this season.

Norris led the Senators in goals last season with 35 while finishing with 55 points in 66 games. He however had surgery on that same shoulder, which caused him to miss 15 games in 2021-22.

The fact that the injury has returned to the same shoulder has probably prompted the Senators to be careful before deciding on the next steps in Norris’ recovery.

The talented forward signed an eight-year, $63.6 million deal in the off-season, and scored his first goal of the season Saturday against the Coyotes in the first period, before getting injured.

In just five games this season, which may be the only ones he plays, Norris tallied two points for Ottawa.