Because the 2024-25 preseason kicked off, all eyes had been on the Ottawa Senators’ first-round decide from the latest draft, and Carter Yakemchuk didn’t disappoint. Not solely did the defender rating a gorgeous back-hand extra time purpose in his first NHL recreation towards the rival Toronto Maple Leafs, however he did so towards Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and Jake McCabe, deking round them as if they weren’t even there. His effort shocked the Toronto crowd in addition to his coach, Travis Inexperienced, who couldn’t say a lot else aside from, “Wow.”
Rookie defenseman Carter Yakemchuk wins it for the Senators! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/5xUlQynoW0
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) September 23, 2024
After such an unimaginable play in his first recreation, it was unimaginable to not think about Yakemchuk’s dynamic skillset on the Senators’ blueline in 2024-25. He has the scale and a right-handed shot, making him a pretty choice for Ottawa’s open third pairing. Nonetheless, regardless of the potential match, preserving Yakemchuk within the NHL could be a grave mistake that might have long-term ramifications for the franchise. Not solely might it stunt his growth, but it surely might shorten the profession of the crew’s solely top-tier prospect on defence. No matter how nicely he does within the preseason, he must spend not less than one other season again within the Western Hockey League (WHL).
NHL Preseason Hides Numerous Points
The NHL preseason is numerous enjoyable. Rookies and prospects are given starring roles alongside a few of the finest gamers within the recreation, permitting them to thrive in ways in which they couldn’t in the course of the common season. Veterans additionally incessantly take it simple in the course of the preseason – simply take a look at how Marner and Matthews are skating within the above clip – as a result of they know they’ve already made the crew and don’t need to threat harm in video games that don’t matter within the standings. For these causes, it will possibly current a skewed model of the NHL and any outcomes have to be taken with a grain of salt. In any case, Ty Rattie was one of the best participant in the course of the 2018-19 preseason, then proceeded to attain simply 4 objectives in 50 common season video games.
Associated: Senators Information & Rumors: Ullmark, Norris, Yakemchuk
There’s no questioning Yakemchuk’s talents. He was spectacular all coaching camp, main Inexperienced to place him on a pairing with Thomas Chabot to attempt to give the 18-year-old a powerful mentor in his first NHL recreation. However after seeing his confidence and ability with the puck, the Senators’ alternate captain mentioned, “He’s a proficient participant, fluid on the market, simply sees the sport very well, with an elite shot. So you already know what? There’s not a lot that I’m going to show him. I believe he’s already bought most of it, and it’s nearly being there for him and serving to him.”
If Chabot doesn’t have a lot to show Yakemchuk, there’s an argument that he must be one of many six within the Senators’ season opener. However his defence remains to be very a lot a piece in progress; simply final season, he incessantly made overconfident performs that ended up hurting his crew by both coughing up the puck or shedding observe of his man. He additionally nonetheless wants to enhance his skating, as he can get caught flat-footed and presently doesn’t have the velocity to catch up. It’s not a fluke that he scored 30 objectives final season within the WHL and his imaginative and prescient and power are large property for him on this space. But there have been nonetheless moments in his first recreation the place he misplaced observe of gamers that led to scoring alternatives, proving he’s not NHL-ready but.
Calgary Gives the Greatest Place to Develop
Proper now, the Senators have most of their blue line locked in for 2024-25. Artem Zub, Chabot, Jake Sanderson, and Nick Jensen are assured to start out the 12 months within the prime 4, leaving the one query marks for the underside pairing. Taking part in on the third pairing just isn’t a straightforward deployment; the minutes are restricted and they’re typically tasked at shutting down the opponent’s stars earlier than giving strategy to probably the most dynamic defenders on the primary and second pairings. It’s why Inexperienced is on the lookout for consistency from whoever finally ends up there, and why groups incessantly make use of grizzled veterans to deal with it.
Final season, Yakemchuk was wildly inconsistent, generally trying like a unique participant from shift to shift. Whereas he has actually made enhancements from his draft seaon’s efficiency, there are nonetheless moments the place he seems very very like a rookie and had some rougher shifts towards the Maple Leafs. Moreover, whereas he has the scale and physicality to be a grinding NHL defender, he initiatives to be a high-end offensive contributor and nonetheless lacks lots of the finer factors in his defensive recreation. Placing him on the third pairing as an 18-year-old could be setting him up for failure.
Again with the Calgary Hitmen, nevertheless, Yakemchuk would be the crew’s prime defenceman. He’ll frequently play over 20 minutes an evening, run the crew’s energy play, and quarterback their breakouts. After not making the playoffs final season, the Hitmen look to take a step ahead, particularly on the again finish. The crew added the 6-foot-5 Axel Hurtig on the Canadian Hockey League Import Draft and draft-eligible Reese Hamilton could possibly be a first-round decide this season. Each are left pictures, although, giving Yakemchuk his selection in defensive companions. Each supply incredible alternatives to develop different elements of his recreation, and one other season in junior will assist iron out his inconsistency points.
Senators Can’t Danger His Growth
Many gamers have made the NHL instantly following their draft 12 months and have gone on to have profitable NHL careers. Nonetheless, that’s way more frequent amongst forwards than defencemen. In response to Quant Hockey, solely 36 defenders have performed 10 or extra video games within the NHL at 18 years previous for the reason that implementation of the novice draft in 1969. Of these, there’s first-overall choices Rasmus Dahlin and Aaron Ekblad, who’re two of one of the best defencemen within the NHL proper now. However there’s additionally Gord Kluzak, one other first-overall decide, struggled with knee accidents after becoming a member of the Boston Bruins and retired in 1991. Aki Berg additionally struggled with accidents after going third total in 1995, as did Wayne McBean, who went fourth in 1987 and was described as a Paul Coffey-type participant.
Defencemen take longer to develop. The defensive aspect of hockey is tougher to grasp and extra bodily demanding, and few gamers popping out of their draft season have all of the instruments essential to thrive within the NHL. Simply take Dahlin, who struggled to appear like the generational star he’d been pegged as till 2022-23, when he hit 73 factors in 77 video games. Even Chabot, who performed two junior seasons earlier than making the Senators, was over-used early in his profession and certain led to him turning into harm inclined.
So, possibly Yakemchuk might play within the NHL this season. Perhaps he might even do fairly good as a giant, heavy-hitting defender on the third pairing. Among the best methods to study a brand new ability is by necessity, and he would want to determine consistency and defensive consciousness in a short time in that position. However placing him in that position would additionally power him to restrict his creativity and dynamic puck abilities, two areas which can make him a prime defenceman within the league at some point. The Senators don’t want one other Erik Brannstrom, who was pressured to play defensive hockey on the third pairing which all however killed his potential as a top-four puck-moving defenceman. With so few prime prospects of their system, Ottawa must be affected person with Yakemchuk, irrespective of how good he’s now.
