With the three players still competing at the Olympics, Jake Sanderson, Brady Tkachuk, Nik Matinpalo, and Tim Stützle, Lars Eller on their way back to Ottawa from Milan, the Senators reached out to their American League affiliate to supply a few extra bodies.
Though, they weren’t officially recalled, forwards Tyler Boucher, Arthur Kaliyev, Oskar Pettersson and defenseman Carter Yakemchuk made the two and a half hour trek from Belleville to provide the Senators with a full complement of 12 forwards, six d-men for Senators practice Thursday.
It was an opportunity for the four AHLers to display their wares under the auspice of Senators coaches, the club’s braintrust of general manager Steve Staios and Vice-President of Hockey Operations Dave Poulin.
For Yakemchuk, he may have been in Ottawa earlier had it not for a lower-body injuy which kept him sidelined for a month between mid-January and February.
The 20-year-old was appreciative of the team for the practice invite, saying “It was pretty cool. It was a long practice (75 minutes), and was pretty hard.”
Yakemchuk noted the difference between skating with NHL and AHL level players, “Yeah, just obviously, like, how good all the players are. The passes are crispy, and obviously everyone’s really good.”
For the Senators 2024 seventh overall Draft selection in his first professional season, it’s all about finding his way. Yakemchuk’s offensive side to his game is already well-established.
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In his final two campaigns of junior hockey with the Western League’s Calgary Hitmen, the Fort McMurray native registered 120 points (47 goals, 73 assists in 120 games). To date, this season for Belleville, Yakemchuk has garnered seven goals, 18 assists in 39 games, ranking second among all AHL rookie defenseman. Coachella Valley’s Tyson Jugnauth is tops with 33. However, the Seattle Kraken prospect has appeared in 48 games.
Defensively, Yakemchuk has plenty of room for improvement at the pro level, but this is the reason the AHL is a development league, a place where he can hone his game to gain readiness for the big club.
At minus-28, Yakemchuk is tied for the lowest minus player stat league-wide.
The young blueliner admitted having to adjust to a quicker game, “At first, adjust to the pace of play. I mean, it’s obviously different from junior, so just trying to reach the was an adjustment to start. But I think I’ve found it.”
Yakemchuk added, “The coaches in Belleville have been great. They’re just getting to learn the defensive side of the game a little better. They’ve worked with me with video and all that stuff has been good.”
Senators head coach Travis Green said of Yakemchuk, “He’s a young prospect that we obviously have a lot of hopes for and want him to be the best that he can be, and yet also want to make sure we do right by him, make sure that he does get his opportunity, but he’s ready for it.”
At this juncture of the Senators’ season, it’s best-served Yakemchuk plies his trade and continues to develop in Belleville. Will the rookie receive a call this season? It remains to be seen. It’ll depend where the Senators lie after the March 6 NHL Trade Deadline.
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