After a very quiet offseason up to this point besides contract disputes with Mike Hoffman and Cody Ceci, this is a major move for the Senators, and it appears like not only a way to get more experience in the lineup, but also save money down the road.
Zibanejad is eligible to be a restricted free agent next offseason. He is going to make $3.25 million next season, and is in line for a huge raise.
His point totals have improved from 20, to 33, to 46, to 51 each year he has played for the Senators, and clearly Ottawa was anxious about giving him a raise.