Senators defenseman Artem Zub out ‘at least a week’ with concussion

The Ottawa Senators won’t have their most physical shutdown blueliner back particularly soon. On Wednesday, head coach Travis Green told reporters Artem Zub has a concussion and will be out “at least a week.”

Zub got hurt during Monday’s game between the Senators and Los Angeles Kings, an 8-7 overtime barn burner. During the first period, while attempting to break the puck out in his own zone, Zub took this devasting hit from Kings enforcer Tanner Jeannot:

Zub only ended up playing four shifts and 2:38 in Monday’s contest.

The injury is of particular concern given Zub, 29, has a history of injuries from the neck up. He fractured his jaw in December 2022 and sustained a concussion in November 2023. Removing Zub from the Senators’ lineup will also test their depth. He was working on their top pair alongside No. 1 defenseman Jake Sanderson, taking on opponents’ best offensive forwards. So far this season, the Sens carry a 55.74 percent expected goal share with Zub on the ice at 5-on-5, the highest mark of any defenseman on the team.

Zub is in his fifth season with the Sens after joining them in 2020 as a free agent out of the KHL. He’s in Year 2 of a four-year extension, signed in 2022, which commenced in 2023-24 and carries a $4.8 million cap hit.

The Sens will miss him. Green did provide some sunnier updates on two other key Ottawa injuries Wednesday, however. Defenseman Thomas Chabot appeared to get hurt during practice when he collided with Jacob Bernard-Docker and left for the dressing room without returning, but Green told reporters Chabot is “fine.”

As for starting goaltender Linus Ullmark: Green indicated earlier in the week that Ullmark was dealing with a “strain,” but Ullmark skated Wednesday and could be back between the pipes Thursday when the Senators host the New Jersey Devils.