The Olympics bring people together to root on for people from their countries. For the first time since the 2014 Olympics, NHL players will represent their countries at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
So far, two players on the Ottawa Senators will represent their country at the 2026 Olympics. Tim Stutzle will represent Germany and Brady Tkachuk will represent the United States.
However, one country that won't be represented for hockey at the 2026 Olympics is Russia. With Russia not being allowed to participate, it causes one Senator to not have the chance to represent his country.
Zub can't showcase his game at Olympics for Russia with the ban in place
As part of the sanctions imposed following the invasion in Ukraine in 2022, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) banned Russia from competing in the 2026 Olympics back on May 27. With the ban in place, Russian hockey can't be represented at the Olympics.
Yesterday, the first six selections were announced for the hockey teams competing in the Olympics. While he wouldn't have likely been one of the first six players selected, Senators defenseman Artem Zub would have a great chance to represent Russia if Russia was allowed to participate in the 2026 Olympics.
Zub has become a fan favorite in Ottawa with fans yelling his last name at Canadian Tire Centre. In the 2024-25 season, Zub was solid.
Zub finished the season with 13 points and a +3 rating in 56 games played. Although he's not your everyday offensive defenseman, Zub makes his presence known defensively.
Zub finished with 118 blocked shots and 58 hits. Zub's 118 blocked shots was the third most on the Senators roster only behind Jake Sanderson and Thomas Chabot.
Russia has some of the best and most popular players in the NHL. From Alex Ovechkin, to Evgeni Malkin, to Igor Shesterkin, to Nikita Kucherov, to Artemi Panarin, to Kirill Kaprizov and more. While Zub wouldn't have likely cracked Russia's top six players selected for Russia's roster like his teammates Stutzle and Tkachuk did for their countries, the chances Zub would've been selected on Russia's roster for defensemen were solid with his play from 2024-25.
Had Russia been able to compete in the Olympics, Zub would've gotten the chance to play with some of the best players from Russia. Being able to play with long time players and legends like Ovechkin and Malkin is a dream for any Russian player.
Zub also could've gotten the chance to play with top Russian defensemen like Dmitry Orlov, Dmitry Kulikov, Ivan Provorov and even Nikita Zadorov.
Had Russia not been banned, the country would've had a solid chance to win gold with the talent they would've had on the roster. Unfortunately for Zub and the fellow Russians, they won't be able to do that with Russia being banned from the 2026 Olympics.