2024-07-13 01:19:56
OTTAWA – Carter Yakemchuk has already seen his future with the Ottawa Senators.
The 18-year-old defenseman, who was selected seventh overall by the Senators in the 2024 draft, is looking to earn a position on the team in the “next two years”. And he already knows who his ideal partner is on the blue line.
“Jake Sanderson is my dream partner one day,” Yakemchuk said at the Senators’ development camp last week. “He’s a guy I can see myself playing with. »
We can understand this, because there are already connections between Yakemchuk and Sanderson. They grew up in close neighborhoods in Calgary, and Yakemchuk’s older brother played minor hockey with Sanderson. Even today, their families are close.
It also makes sense on paper. Yakemchuk is on the right; Sanderson is on the left. And Sanderson, already one of the fastest skaters in the NHL and one of the most reliable defensemen in Ottawa at age 22, could be the perfect mentor for Yakemchuk, who needs to improve his legs and his attention to small details in his end, according to his own admission.
Yakemchuk has a natural talent for offensive play, to support the attack, confuse the cards in the opposition zone and will shoot powerful slap shots. He scored 71 points (30 goals, 41 assists) in 66 games with the Calgary Hitmen in the Western Hockey League (WHL) last season.
He finished fifth in the WHL in points among defensemen, as well as becoming one of 22 goaltenders in league history to reach the 30-goal plateau in a season.
“It’s something I’ve always had in me since I was very young,” Yakemchuk said of his offensive talent. “I like to score goals, I like to be involved in the game.
“I’m an offensive defenseman who plays hard. »
Yakemchuk’s offensive prowess helped the Reds win the 3-on-3 contest on the final day of development camp, where he impressed Senators player development coach Sean Donovan.
“A very talented young complaint, calm, Western guy,” Donovan said. It is easy to work with. »
Donovan says Yakemchuk reminds him of Carolina Hurricanes defensive end Brent Burns. For his part, Yakemchuk admires Evan Bouchard of the Edmonton Oilers. Senators general manager Steve Staios believes Yakemchuk could reach a very high level of play with the “right time, effort and development.”
“We like Carter’s potential,” Staios said shortly after drafting Yakemchuk on June 28. “He has raw talent and I think his potential is huge. We liked what we saw. »
Staios, who traveled several times to watch Yakemchuk play in the second half of the season, sees him as a “quiet young man” with a great sense of competition that will increase as he matures.
“I saw a player who dictated the pace of the game on the ice,” Staios said. It stands out. We like that we can work from this potential. »
#Yakemchuk #sees #Senators