Ottawa Senators defenceman Carter Yakemchuk had an excellent preseason NHL debut in Toronto on Sunday night. I must admit that, as crazy it felt, I started thinking for the first time about what Yakemchuk might look like in the NHL.
Based on the replies and likes, I wasn’t alone.
It’s crazy to be thinking about Yakemchuk playing in the NHL this season. And yet, I find myself suddenly thinking about Yakemchuk playing in the NHL this season
— Steve Warne (@SteveWarneMedia) September 22, 2024
90 minutes later, Yakemchuk went out and won the game in overtime on a nice end to end rush. He moved up the ice at half speed, made a lightning quick move at the blue line to beat Jake McCabe to the inside. Mitch Marner then lazily let him cut to the far post to beat Matt Murray with a backhand goal.
On a 1-on-2 overtime rush, 18-year-old defencemen aren’t supposed to have the poise to attack and win the game by themselves. It was impressive and got people thinking, myself included.
But today, in the light of day, it’s time for a little perspective. It was a great first impression and nothing more.
Until last night, no one had even thought about Yakemchuk as an NHL option this season. Let’s not forget, this is a team that could really use another right shot D. Right now, their options for the last opening are Travis Hamonic, Jacob Bernard-Docker, Calen Addison, or Max Guenette.
If we’re honest, there’s a reason no one was even thinking about the idea of Yakemchuk making the NHL this season. It’s because it’s a bad idea.
Last night was an encouraging start, fun as hell, and worth a daydream or two about what a weapon Yakemchuk could be for Ottawa’s blue line… someday. But if you believe in best practices, and this team does, it’s a crazy notion to actually keep him in Ottawa this season.
Cale Makar might be the game’s best defenceman right now and he spent two years at UMass-Amherst after he was drafted fourth overall by the Colorado Avalanche. Jake Sanderson did two years at North Dakota after he went fifth on his NHL draft day.
Those sound like pretty solid templates for the Senators to follow. There’s absolutely no compelling reason to ignore them. Certainly not because of a preseason performance on September 22nd.
The kid has skill and confidence and you can’t have one without the other. The last thing the Sens need to do is mess with that. I would be shocked if they’re even thinking about it.
Yakemchuk has a ton going for him, but there’s work to do on defending and on quicker feet. At best, if he continues to play well, you give him a couple of games in that nine-game window. Then give him a game plan and let him continue to confidently develop against his peers where there’s less attention and less on the line.
Yakemchuk looks like a hell of a prospect and his time will come. But that time isn’t now. Call me a wet blanket or Debbie Downer if you want. I’m good with it. But the idea of rushing Yakemchuk to the NHL as a teenager is, by no means, best in class.
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