Dec 13: A few days later and Heatherington has been returned to the minor leagues, suggesting Zub is close to a return. The minor league veteran has still not actually seen any NHL action this season.
Dec 7: The Ottawa Senators saw their short winning streak come to an abrupt halt last night when they allowed five goals to the Los Angeles Kings, and now they’re headed on the road for two games against the Central Division. With Artem Zub sidelined due to a broken jaw, they’ve recalled Dillon Heatherington from the AHL to give them some extra defensive depth on the trip.
Heatherington, 27, has already played nine games for Ottawa this season, filling in when Zub and Thomas Chabot were out earlier this year. The minor league veteran failed to record a point during that time but does offer size and physicality, something that the group can lack at times.
The Senators defensive results have been tied almost directly to Zub’s health this year. When he’s in the lineup, they do fine, and when he’s not, they don’t. In the 14 games he has played, the team is 7-7. In the 11 he’s missed, 3-7-1. That combined record puts them last in the Atlantic Division and falling out of the playoff race as we approach Christmas.
Ottawa has been linked to every potential defenseman on the market but haven’t pulled the trigger yet on a trade to reinforce the back end. At some point, if they want to compete for the playoffs and a Stanley Cup, an addition of some sort will have to be made. Nikita Zaitsev logged the second-most minutes among defensemen last night, just days after being sent to the minor leagues.