As a former NHL defenseman who played over 1,000 games in the league, Ottawa Senators GM Steve Staios knows what it takes to be ready for the best league in the world.
Today, Staios and his staff decided that while Carter Yakemchuk’s time will come, that time isn’t now. The 19-year-old defenseman was sent back to his junior team, the Calgary Hitmen of the Western Hockey League.
This decision was the sensible plan all along for the Senators’ seventh overall draft pick this year. However, after posting a club-leading seven points in four preseason games, Yakemchuk gave Staios plenty to think about. Keeping him might have been beneficial for the Senators in the short term, but it likely wouldn’t have been in the best interest of the kid’s long-term development.
With Monday’s 5pm roster deadline looming, the Senators placed Adam Gaudette and Jan Jenik on waivers on Sunday. With that being the only news of the day, hours after their club’s pre-season finale, that naturally led to speculation that Yakemchuk had been spared and was going to start the season with the big club.
Not so much. The Senators just wanted another night to sleep on it.
Yakemchuk’s departure leaves the Senators with seven defensemen to open the season. Barring any changes, the bottom-pairing will be shared between Tyler Kleven, Travis Hamonic, and Jacob Bernard-Docker. As the only left-shot of the three, Kleven will likely set up shop on the left side most nights.
Meanwhile, there was talk that the Senators might make a waiver claim for an NHL defenseman today, but they didn’t find anyone that caught their interest.
Yakemchuk is 6-foot-4 and scored 30 goals last season, leading all WHL defensemen. While an assignment to the AHL to play against men this season would probably be a better option, his age dictates he must, by rule, return to junior.
But this is still the right move. While he excelled offensively during the NHL preseason, there were a few “rookie moments” defensively. Yakemchuk’s focus for the next year will be on improving in that area, as well as enhancing his skating skills.
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