Defense has been a critical area for the Ottawa Senators for years. The rise of Jake Sanderson and the veteran presence of Thomas Chabot was big for the Senators to clinch a playoff spot in 2025.
However, one defenseman's play that might be underappreciated on the roster is Artem Zub. In the 2024-25 season, Zub's defensive presence was a solid one for the Senators to make the playoffs.
Zub is set to be an unrestricted free agent in 2027. Zub being a free agent in the same year as Tyler Kleven and Nikolas Matinpalo could make the Senators be in a tough position of which defenseman to sign. However, it's not too early to think about what a potential extension for Zub could look like in the future if the Senators want to give him one.
What could a Zub extension look like if Sens want to give him one in the future?
Zub will turn 30 years old in October before the 2025-26 regular season begins, and has a $4.6 million cap hit per year until his contract runs out in 2027. With Sens fans chanting "Zuuuuuub" at Canadian Tire Centre throughout his Senators tenure, Zub has become a fan favorite.
If the Senators were to give Zub an extension in the future, his age will need to be given consideration. A potential extension at two or three years might be a fair length. For the salary per year, the $3.5-4 million range could still be in the ballpark for Zub considering his presence.
Although he's not known for his offense as a defenseman, Zub makes up for it defensively. While playing in 56 games in the 2024-25 season, Zub recorded 118 blocked shots and 58 hits. Zub did deliver with 13 points offensively. Zub averaged over 20:30 of ice time per game under head coach Travis Green.
In five NHL seasons, Zub has averaged over 100 blocked shots per season. Zub also plays a big role on the penalty kill with clearing pucks out and delivering hits.
However, there could be one thing that could make the Senators concerned about Zub in the future, and that is his health.
After playing in 81 games in the 2021-22 season, Zub hasn't played in 70 games in a season over the past three seasons. Zub has missed a combined 72 games since the 2022-23 season. With turning 30 years old before the 2025-26 season starts, injury concerns could grow more of a concern for Zub over the next two seasons while being under contract in Ottawa.
In the end, Zub's defensive presence is crucial for the Senators. With Zub on the ice, the Senators defense gets stronger and better.
Injuries over the past three seasons could make the Senators concerned about Zub with his health, but being a fan favorite and a strong defensive force is something the Senators need to consider with a potential extension for Zub in the future.