The Senators parted ways with a center that had been with the franchise for six years in Josh Norris ahead of Friday’s NHL trade deadline.
The former first-round pick was traded to the Sabres in a deal that netted Ottawa another center in Dylan Cozens.
In the immediate aftermath of the trade, Senators star Brady Tkachuk had limited words and was clearly emotional about the departure of Norris.
Here’s what Tkachuk had to say about the Senators-Sabres deal made before Friday’s trade deadline.
MORE: Tracking the deals made at the 2025 NHL trade deadline
Brady Tkachuk’s emotional response to Senators trading Josh Norris
Tkachuk was drafted fourth overall by the Senators in the 2018 NHL Draft. Later that year, the team acquired Norris from the Sharks; Norris hadn’t yet played his first NHL game after being drafted in 2017.
Tkachuk and Norris have been teammates since, with the two 25-year-olds playing significant roles for Ottawa. On Friday, Tkachuk was asked about the trade sending Norris to Buffalo.
Struggling to find words to describe his feelings about the trade, Tkachuk called it “tough,” saying: “It sucks losing a guy like that.”
An emotional Brady Tkachuk shares his thoughts on now former teammate Josh Norris being traded to Buffalo pic.twitter.com/f8msV3N9Gv
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 7, 2025
Tkachuk also offered his thoughts on Ottawa’s return in the deal, which included a player with notable upside in Cozens.
“We’re getting back important pieces that are really going to help us,” Tkachuk said. “With [Cozens] and [Dennis] Gilbert, we’re gonna welcome them in with open arms. I feel bad a little bit that this is the initial reaction, and of course I think they’re gonna understand why it’s a little bit of a whirlwind for me personally.”
Sabres-Senators trade details
Sabres acquire:
- F Josh Norris
- D Jacob Bernard-Docker
Senators acquire:
- F Dylan Cozens
- D Dennis Gilbert
- 2026 2nd round pick
While Ottawa sent Norris and defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker to the Sabres, it got Cozens, defenseman Dennis Gilbert and a second-round pick in return.
