Senators sign defenceman Artem Zub to 4-year extension
The 27-year-old defenceman will carry a $4.6 million cap hit through the 2026-27 season.
The Ottawa Senators signed defenceman Artem Zub to a four-year contract extension worth $4.6 million annually, the team announced Wednesday.
Zub will be paid $4 million for the 2023-24 season, then will earn $4.8 million per season for the remaining three years. He was previously scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season.
"Artem's transition to North American hockey has been remarkable," said Senators general manager Pierre Dorion. "He has worked hard to establish himself as an excellent NHL player and a strong defender. He consistently helps make us a better defensive team while he's on the ice. We're pleased to reach agreement with him on an extension of this length."
The 27-year-old is a defence-first blueliner who has developed into a steady presence for Ottawa after joining the club from SKA Saint Petersburg of the KHL in May 2020. Zub has recorded two goals and four points in 14 games this season while playing 22 minutes a night primarily on the top pair with Thomas Chabot. He has only appeared in 14 of Ottawa's 32 games this season due to various injuries and hasn't played since Dec. 2 after suffering a jaw injury that was expected to keep him out of action for 3-4 weeks.
Zub built an extensive international resume prior to joining the Senators, winning a gold medal with the Olympic Athletes from Russia in 2018, along with two bronze medals with Russia at the IIHF World Championships in 2017 and 2019.
Along with Thomas Chabot and the emerging Jake Sanderson, the Senators now have three long-term pieces on their blue line secured, and five defencemen including Dillon Heatherington and Nikita Zaitsev under contract for 2023-24.
Although this year almost surely won’t result in a playoff berth that may have been expected by some, Ottawa is quietly mapping its route with some intention for the future. Zub is a durable and reliable fan favourite who doesn’t play with a lot of flash but is now deservedly rewarded for playing well above initial expectations over the past two seasons.
More from Yahoo Sports
