Projection: Middle-Six Two-Way Center

Strengths: Compete Level, Defensive Game, Shooting

Development Opportunities: Continue to Work on Physical Tools

Norris has been a personal favorite of mine since the beginning of the season. He’s a dogged two-way centerman who always his feet moving, looking to pressure opponents and disrupt play to create counterattack chances. I think he’s a good puck-carrier in transition, combining intelligent routes with heady decision-making to consistently move play in the right direction and avoid turnovers. His shot is an underrated part of his offensive arsenal, as I’ve seen him be able to beat goaltenders cleanly from distance, particularly on the PP as a halfwall option. I think Norris is a player with a very high floor, but his offensive ceiling isn’t as high. If he continues to refine his puck skills and overall skill I think there’s a world where he becomes a 2C in the QMJHL.

I don’t think there was a player in the entire event that impacted the game as efficiently in all three zones as Norris did. His ability to consistently make plays under pressure while dealing with contact was superb, often drifting to the outside off the rush to draw defenders towards him, take a hit and make a swift dish to the middle to a streaking linemate. He made quick and calculated decisions along the wall in the offensive zone as well, spotting his options quickly on his touches and connecting on feeds on both his forehand and backhand to the slot area. I thought he was also highly dangerous as a shooter, demonstrating the ability to pick corners and beat goaltenders cleanly from a distance in the offensive zone. I loved his work off-puck, especially on the defensive side of things where he was highly effective at tracking down puck-carriers from behind and creating counterattack chances for his line.