Artem Zub’s Absence Gives the Senators an Early Camp Problem

No time is ever good for an NHL player to miss training camp, but Artem Zub's timing is particularly inconvenient for the Ottawa Senators. Zub is expected to miss the first one to two weeks of camp because of a lower-body injury. That doesn't necessarily mean he'll miss the start of the regular season, but it does mean he'll be playing catch-up while the rest of the Senators get their legs underneath them.

And that's not ideal for a defenceman. Training camp isn't just about getting into shape. It's where defensive pairs begin to develop some familiarity, where coaches establish systems and where players start figuring out how they want to play together. Zub won't be part of much of that early work.

Zub's absence creates an opportunity for somebody else.

This is one of those situations where an injury to an established player can quietly change the complexion of a training camp. Ottawa knows what Zub can do. The 30-year-old has been an important part of the Senators' blue line, and his role is clear when he's healthy. But while Zub is on the sidelines, somebody else gets his minutes.

That's important for the younger defencemen and depth players trying to establish themselves. Training camp opportunities can disappear quickly once an established player returns, so the players stepping into Zub's spot will have a limited window to make an impression. That doesn't mean anybody is going to take his job.

It simply means somebody gets a chance to show the coaching staff what they can do. And that is one of the useful things about training camp. Injuries are never part of the plan, but they can reveal something about an organization's depth.

The bigger concern is getting Zub ready.

The Senators don't need Zub to win a training-camp competition. They need him healthy. If his recovery goes well and he gets back on the ice toward the beginning of that one-to-two-week window, there should still be time to get him ready for the regular season.

But there is a difference between being medically ready to play and being completely prepared to play meaningful NHL minutes. That is where the preseason becomes important. If Zub misses most or all of Ottawa's exhibition games, the Senators will have to decide how much work he needs before putting him into the lineup. They won't want to rush him simply because Opening Night is approaching.

The good news is that this doesn't sound like a season-threatening injury. For now, it's mostly an inconvenience. But it is also an early reminder that an NHL roster is never quite as settled as it looks on paper. Zub's spot may be secure, but the players behind him will get a chance to prove they can be trusted. And for Ottawa, that's useful information to have before the games start counting.