from Tim Baines of the Ottawa Sun,

Josh Norris is frustrated

The Ottawa Senators are frustrated.

Include the fan base and you can multiply that frustration by a lot as the Senators’ second-line centre’s attempts to return to the lineup remain stalled. Norris, who “tweaked” his surgically repaired shoulder just before the start of training camp, missed all eight of his team’s NHL pre-season games. Saturday’s game against Montreal was the final exhibition contest before the start of the regular season next Wednesday in Carolina.

“Right now, the training staff and doctors are telling me he’s not going to play,” said Senators coach D.J. Smith following a morning skate Saturday. “It’s unfortunate. I know the kid wants to play hockey. You never think you’d possibly start the year without him … but it certainly looks that way.

“It’s concerning. When I’m doing my lineup in the middle of June and July, I have him in my lineup . We thought he was going to play at home against Winnipeg. He wasn’t cleared or allowed to play. Then we thought when we played against Pittsburgh, same thing. At this point, I’m being told he’s just unable to play.”

OK, so when will Norris get the green light to go?

“I don’t know,” said Smith. “I’m going to wait on (the doctors’ and training staff’s) direction. He’s a big part of this team. All we can do is have a next-man-up mentality.”

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