- Travis Green does not expect Artem Zub to be ready for Ottawa’s Oct. 3 opener in Toronto
- Zub is still rehabbing the knee injury that ended his playoffs in Game 1 against Carolina
- Read below for Green’s full comments and where Ottawa’s banged-up blue line stands
The Senators are going to start the season without their top pair intact.
Head coach Travis Green said Wednesday that he does not expect Artem Zub to be ready for the Oct. 3 opener against the Maple Leafs. Zub is still working his way back from the knee injury he suffered in Game 1 of last spring’s first-round series against Carolina.
Green was asked for an update on where the rehab stands.
“He’s skating a little more. I don’t see him being ready to start the season with where he’s at right now. It’s a slow process, but we are seeing progression.”
Zub did not have surgery over the summer. He has not practiced with the group at camp and has not spoken with reporters since it opened.
Jake Sanderson, his regular partner, also sat out Wednesday’s split-squad games against Toronto. Green was asked about that one too, and he waved it off.
“I don’t even want to call it an injury. We’re just precautionary, making sure that he’s right.”
Ottawa split its roster across two buildings for the doubleheader:
Jordan Spence and Jorian Donovan were held out as well, which left Green counting bodies on the back end.
“I think we’ve got four defencemen hurt right now. You know, arguably, three of them are three of our top, whatever, six defencemen.”
Take a look at the group the Senators sent down the highway to Scotiabank Arena:
All of that opens a door for Ben Hutton, who came to camp on a professional tryout. Green coached him in Vancouver, and a roster spot is suddenly a real possibility.
The 30-year-old Zub is coming off the best offensive year of his career, with five goals and 30 points in 81 games. He is in the final season of a four-year, $18.4 million contract and has been eligible to sign an extension since July 1, the same window Ottawa used to lock up Drake Batherson earlier this month.
Saturday’s split-squad set against Montreal is the last preseason work before the opener in Toronto.
