If you’ve been keeping an eye on the trade chatter, the Ottawa Senators are starting to pop up in conversations, and one name keeps coming up: right defenseman Artem Zub. Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Citizen flagged him as one real “look at this guy” type.
Zub could move because he has no trade protection
Why? Zub has one year left on his $4.6 million deal, and he doesn’t have any trade protection. That makes him an easy name for teams if Ottawa decides it wants to shake up its blue line. He’s in the first pairing with Jake Sanderson and has been a solid top-four NHL defenseman for a while.
It’s true. Ottawa is checking in midseason and trying to figure out how to get stronger while still within reach of the playoffs. With a record of 24-21-7 and seven points behind Boston for that second wild card, hope is alive, but other teams are already knocking.
He spent six seasons in Ottawa, where he scored 23 goals, 101 points and a +25 rating while averaging 20:21 per night. That’s the kind of consistent, experienced playoff teams with defensemen who are always looking.
Zub’s six-year career has made him a valuable blueliner
Over his six-year career (all with Ottawa), he scored 23 goals, 101 points and a +25 plus/minus, averaging 20:21 per night. That’s the kind of steady, experienced defenseman teams need if they want to add depth to a playoff run.
At this point, Ottawa still wants to push and stay in the race. Their 7-1 win over Vegas recently showed what happens when goaltending and scoring depth click: suddenly it’s easier to hold onto the roster. But the league is still calling when a defenseman like Zub is available: someone with term, proven NHL experience and a manageable cap hit.
If the Senators get into trouble, Zub can make a move
There are no guarantees he will move, and Garrioch was careful with his wording. But if Ottawa finds itself in trouble, or if a contender loses a right-shot defenseman to injury, Zub is exactly the kind of name that will flare up in the rumor mill. Smoke here could very well mean fire there.
Related: Why the Senators are always one trade away from regret
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