The Ottawa Senators have bolstered their defensive corps with the signing of Russian defenseman Artem Zub. The 24-year-old blueliner was set to be a free agent Thursday.
Zub has played in 308 career Kontinental Hockey League games totaling 65 points (20 goals, 45 assists). As a member of the Russian national team, he won two world championships (2017 and 2019) and an Olympic gold medal in 2018. The 2018-19 season was Zub's most productive season when he lit the lamp a career-high 13 times and tallied nine assists.
"We're pleased that Artem has elected to pursue an NHL career here in Ottawa," Senators general manager Pierre Dorion said in a statement. "Artem is a smart defensive defenseman who moves the puck well and who utilizes his strength and mobility to make plays. His extensive international resume will help him transition to a North American style of play but his key attribute is his sound ability to defend."
He's earned comparisons to his new teammate, Nikita Zaitsev, posting similar offensive numbers while having a defense-first mindset. Zub is listed at 6-2 and 198 pounds and is a strong skater.
In a scouting breakdown by The Athletic's Scott Wheeler, Zub is described as someone who plays aggressively. "That's true without the puck, where he consistently steps up on players off the rush or pinches in the offensive zone, and it's true with the puck, where he looks to attack and create."
Zub has, however, shown instances in which he was overly aggressive. Wheeler noted that "wherever Zub lands in the NHL, his teammates, his coaches and fans will quickly learn that he often gets out of position playing a little too aggressively at times."
As a right-handed defenseman, he would fill a need for Ottawa as Zaitsev and prospects Christian Jaros and Lassi Thomson are the only right-shot blueliners under contract next season. Veteran Ron Hainsey is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent after the season.
Ottawa entered the pause with the league's second-worst record and the second-worst defense allowing 3.35 goals per game.