Finding the Methot for Thomas Chabot
By Derek Lee
1. Internally
Obviously, there’s an easy solution if someone suddenly works out in camp and proves to be solid next season. This bodes well for the Ottawa Senators hopes of remaining at the cap floor as well from a budget perspective. The easy solution is not always the best option however in this case, we know for sure who this isn’t (*clears throat, Nikita Zaitsev).
Possible Candidate #1 Artem Zub:
The Senators signed KHL, right shot Defenseman, Artyem Zub and then signed him two more times before officially signing the Russian phenom known as Zub-Nation, to a 2-way, one-year league minimum contract.
While the 6’2 200lbs defenseman posted career-best offensive numbers, 22 points, 13 of those goals, the lengthy D was acquired for his stellar defensive play. Pierre Dorion is quoted as saying “Artem is a smart, defensive defenseman who moves the puck well and who utilizes his strength and mobility to make plays.”
The question for Zub will be how well, the 24-year-old can transition his game to a much faster, more skilled level of competition in the NHL. Unfortunately, a realistic comparable for him, as pointed out by many already, is his countrymate and new teammate, Nikita Zaitsev. Luckily Zub will have an opportunity to prove that he’s not a Zaitsev clone although you can certainly argue that Zaitsev put up the far better numbers before making the transition to the NHL.
If Zub can learn the NHL game quickly, use his size and strength to his advantage defensively, and have enough poise to make positive decisions with the puck, he is a good candidate for Chabot’s partner. I’m sure he will be given a long look at what he can bring to the NHL regardless if he’s playing beside Chabot or down the lineup. While Zub presents an opportunity to be the solution for The Ottawa Senators search for a steady top-line duo I would say the likelihood is slim. It’s a low risk/high reward play that the Senators can afford to make right now.