Player Discussion Artem Zub (D) Part 2 [Extended 4 years @ $4.6M]

[Ice-Tray]

Zub is nasty, and I love it.

He is an important part of our top4 going forward in my opinion.

 

[Erik Alfredsson]

Defensive players get labelled "complimentary" when really they are doing most of the heavy-lifting, at least on the back end.

Zub is also a clear step above Jensen, whom is five years older than Zub.

Zub very much is a #2D in this league. We are very lucky to have him. This guy can do most things, even score breakaway goals, but since he is our most defensively-reliable player (stronger and more physical than Sanderson) he takes on the less "flashy" duties.

At the very least, people shouldn't equate "complimentary" with "not as important". Erik Karlsson was able to be a game breaking talent for us because he had Marc Methot who was a wicked complimentary defenseman that was able to play in a way that allowed Karlsson to play at his best.

You need those type of defensemen. Devon Toews is the modern example of what a great complimentary defenseman will do for the top end talent.