Senators' Top Pick Making Immediate Impact in Professional Debut
Carter Yakemchuk, the Ottawa Senators' highly-touted defensive prospect, has transitioned seamlessly into professional hockey with the Belleville Senators of the American Hockey League. The seventh overall selection in the 2024 NHL draft has quickly established himself as a cornerstone player for Ottawa's AHL affiliate, demonstrating the skills that made him such a coveted draft choice.
Heavy Minutes and Key Responsibilities
The 20-year-old defenseman has been entrusted with significant ice time under Belleville head coach David Bell, averaging 22 minutes and 30 seconds per game early in the season. Yakemchuk has embraced a versatile role that includes power play duties, penalty killing assignments, and crucial defensive situations during the final minutes of close games.
Belleville general manager Matt Turek expressed nothing but enthusiasm about Yakemchuk's adaptation to professional hockey. "This is a big adjustment," Turek told Postmedia. "Our league is full of junior college stars, ex-world junior players — it's a really good league. It's for men and Carter has adjusted really well."
NHL Call-Up Considerations Emerge
Yakemchuk's impressive performance has placed him on the radar for potential promotion to the Ottawa Senators, particularly as the NHL club deals with defensive injuries. With veterans Thomas Chabot and Nick Jensen sidelined with upper-body ailments, Senators president of hockey operations and general manager Steve Staios confirmed that internal discussions have included the possibility of recalling the young defenseman.
Through his first 13 games with Belleville, Yakemchuk has contributed two goals and eight points while playing alongside veteran Scott Harrington, who provides valuable NHL experience. The partnership has proven effective, with Yakemchuk facing opponents' top lines while maintaining offensive production.
Turek summarized the organization's perspective: "He's a top-pairing defenceman, he's playing with a veteran in Scott Harrington, who has a bunch of NHL games under his belt and he's adjusted well. He's playing against the other team's top players and also helping on the offensive side. It's been a heavy schedule, but nothing but positive."
While the Senators may ultimately opt for a more experienced player like Lassi Thomson for immediate needs, Yakemchuk's rapid development suggests his NHL debut may come sooner than anticipated. The organization remains committed to doing what's best for his long-term development, even as his performance creates compelling arguments for promotion.
