The Ottawa Senators will be without top-pairing defenseman Artem Zub for the foreseeable future.
Zub was placed on long-term injured reserve Tuesday morning after suffering a fracture in his foot. The 29-year-old blocked three shots and played 21:30 in the Senators’ 4-3 loss against the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night.
Senators head coach Travis Green said Zub would be out “for a while” on Monday morning ahead of the Senators’ home game against the Calgary Flames. While it’s not clear exactly how long Zub will be out, players placed on long-term injured reserve are expected to miss at least 10 games and 24 NHL regular-season days. Zub has a cap hit of $4.6 million.
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Are the Sens looking to make a trade?
In light of Zub’s absence, the Senators could be involved in trade activity. Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch reported that the Senators have been aggressive in trying to acquire a defenseman. But the idea of the Senators upgrading on defense seemed like a good proposition even before the Zub injury. Both Garrioch and Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli have reported that Senators forward Josh Norris has come up in the rumor mill.
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The New York Rangers are a team that some will connect the Senators to in possible trades. Sources confirmed to The Athletic that they are open to trades, in particular with forward Chris Kreider and defenseman Jacob Trouba. Both players have modified no-trade clauses in their contracts, according to Puckpedia. Columbus Blue Jackets prospect David Jiricek has also been mentioned in rumors, with teams like the Pittsburgh Penguins reportedly interested in the 20-year-old right-shot defenseman.
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Until then, who will step up in Zub’s absence?
The Senators called up defenseman Donovan Sebrango from the Belleville Senators on Tuesday.
The 22-year-old Ottawa native was a 2020 third-round pick of the Detroit Red Wings and joined the Senators organization ahead of the 2023-24 season. Sebrango has two goals and six points in 14 AHL games this season, including a highlight-reel, between-the-legs goal scored against the Syracuse Crunch.
A NO LOOK BETWEEN THE LEGS GOAL 😱
DONO, HOW DO YOU DO⁉️ https://t.co/f6cHkqwBU8 pic.twitter.com/G82zBfwOJT
— Belleville Senators (@BellevilleSens) November 3, 2024
Sebrango looks to be the Senators’ seventh defenseman at the moment and if he enters the lineup it will be his NHL debut.
In Zub’s absence, Travis Hamonic returned alongside Jake Sanderson. Tyler Kleven and Nick Jensen were paired together. Finally, Jacob Bernard-Docker was back in the lineup to play alongside Thomas Chabot against the Flames.
Chabot left the second period of Monday’s game with an injury but returned to play in the third period.
“I think he’s going to be fine,” Green said after the Senators’ win over Calgary.
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(Top photo of Artem Zub: André Ringuette / NHLI via Getty Images)
