NHL Rumors: Senators Getting Trade Calls On Top-Pairing Defenseman

Monday, January 26, 2026
Ottawa Senators defenseman Artem Zub plays the puck during 2026 game.

The Ottawa Senators are getting plenty of trade market attention, and one name Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Citizen flagged as a real monitor is right-shot defenceman Artem Zub. 

Garrioch reported that teams have been talking to Ottawa about Zub, who has one more year left at a $4.6 million cap hit and does not have trade protection, which makes him a easier conversation piece if the Senators decide to reshuffle their blue line.

Zub is on the Senators' first line, forming a pairing with Jake Sanderson.

Why Zub is suddenly a name to watch

Garrioch’s reporting came in the context of Ottawa’s midseason reality check, where the club has been evaluating how to improve while the standings are still tight and sellers are limited. 

The Senators are currently holding a 24-21-7 record with 55 points, and they sit seven points back of the Boston Bruins for the second wild card spot.

If the Senators are listening, Zub makes sense as the guy other teams ask about first because he is a proven NHL top four type on a set number, and his contract structure gives a buyer certainty through next season rather than just a short rental.

The 30-year-old is having another nice season, recording four goals, 17 points, a strong +10 plus/minus rating, and 74 blocked shots across 51 games played. He's averaging 19:59 time on ice per game, which is actually the lowest mark of his career since his rookie season in 2020-21.

Ottawa still wants to push, but the market is calling

Ottawa is still trying to stay in the race, and they just showed what they can look like when things click, and they get solid goaltending, in a 7-to-1 win over the Vegas Golden Knights that featured scoring depth and a steadier night in net. 

That matters here because it is easier to hold your roster when you are stacking wins, but the league keeps calling anyway when it sees a useful defender with term and a manageable cap hit.

Over his six-year career, spent entirely with the Senators, Zub has put up 23 goals, 101 points, and a +25 plus/minus rating, while averaging 20:21 time on ice per game.

For now, this is not a guarantee Zub is getting moved, and Garrioch was careful with the wording, but it's worth noting where there's smoke, there's fire. 

If Ottawa hits a rough stretch before the deadline, or if a contender loses a right shot defenceman to injury, Zub is exactly the sort of name that can jump in the rumor mill quickly.

Photo Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

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