One player the Ottawa Senators need to have back in the lineup is Artem Zub. The Senators have had Zub out of the lineup since the fourth game of the season after Zub sustained a concussion on Oct. 14.
With Zub out of the lineup, Jacob Bernard-Docker has filled his role and has now found good consistency and confidence. However, Zub on the team makes the defense much better.
The good news for Zub is he is skating more which means he's closer to returning to the lineup. However, the Senators might be costing themselves if they place Zub in a bad position.
Zub is close to returning, but could be on third defense pair
The Senators are in Buffalo tonight to take on the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center at 7 p.m. ET. At the morning skate, Zub was practicing, but he is still not ready to return quite yet, and is ruled out for tonight's game.
At the morning skate, Zub was on the third defense pair sharing the spot with Bernard-Docker and the fellow third pair defense partner was Tyler Kleven. Having Zub on the third defense pair might not be the best thing for Zub as he's one of the best defensemen on the team.
Sens lines from the morning skate in Buffalo.
— TSN 1200 Ottawa (@TSN1200) November 5, 2024
Tkachuk-Stützle-Greig
Giroux-Norris-Batherson
Gregor-Ostapchuk-Amadio
Cousins-Gaudette-MacEwen
Sanderson-Hamonic
Chabot-Jensen
Kleven-JBD/Zub
One defenseman that has been struggling all season is Travis Hamonic. In the second game of the season on Oct. 12, Hamonic's concerns grew deeper and he's been struggling ever since.
Hamonic has played in every game this season and has no points with a -4 rating. Hamonic's -4 rating is tied for worst on the team. While Hamonic does provide a veteran presence in the locker room at 34 years old, his defense isn't quite what it used to be when he was a member of the New York Islanders years ago.
Zub is younger and a better defender on the team. Having Zub on the last defense pair could hurt the Senators as being one of the better defensemen on the team.
Pairing Zub with Thomas Chabot, Nick Jensen or Jake Sanderson would be more ideal as those three are better defensemen not only play with, but help be a better lockdown defense team.
Zub is close to returning and the Senators need him, but having him be on the third defense pair, but behind Hamonic is a decision that might cost them when he returns.