Yakemchuk made an immediate impression in his NHL debut on March 24, scoring a goal and adding an assist against Detroit in a game with direct playoff implications for both teams. The call- up came out of necessity – injuries to Thomas Chabot and Jake Sanderson opened the door – but Yakemchuk seized the moment in a way that validated his status as the most important defensive prospect in the Senators system. His AHL year in Belleville – 36 points in 50 games – represents genuine forward progress for a 20-year-old blueliner in his first pro campaign, a step forward from what some viewed as a modest final year with the Hitmen.

His comparable players include Morgan Rielly, Evan Bouchard, and Artyom Levshunov, which all track based on his success on the offensive side of the puck. Each of those players experienced growing pains in their own NHL transitions, and Yakemchuk will likely follow a similar path. His entry-level contract runs through 2027-28, keeping him cost-controlled as Ottawa looks to make the transition from a developing team to a contending one. The real question is how quickly he can become a regular presence on that blue line – and based on his debut, the answer may come sooner than expected. Downey

Carter Yakemchuck had a solid draft plus one season. In 56 regular-season games played, he had 17 goals and 32 assists for 49 points. While production has dipped slightly compared to last year, the high-end skills remain intact. His points per game decreased from 1.08 last season to 0.87 this season. One of the most significant differences between the two seasons has been the number of shots he has taken. While he averaged 4.16 shots per game last year, this season he averaged 3.44 shots per game.

Yakemchuk was selected 7th overall by the Senators.

Carter Yakemchuk’s game can be a headache, but his combination of physical assets and standout offensive game are difficult to ignore. Yakemchuk immediately jumps off the page as a 6’3, RHD with a booming point shot and dynamic puckhandling. Yakemchuk possesses a level of supreme confidence with the puck that allows him to create difficult zone-entries, dangle through pressure at the attacking blueline, and fire dangerous shots on net. As a result, Yakemchuk was second among CHL defencemen in goals, behind only Zayne Parekh. While his IQ is not a strength, Yakemchuk is a capable playmaker, though not a quarterback. In transition, Yakemchuk’s hands are his best asset as he is not a particularly adept skater or transition playmaker. He is fast for his size, but his mechanics are poor and lacks acceleration. His difficulty in making timely decisions also prevents Yakemchuk from being a strong breakout or entry creator. Most glaring are Yakemchuk’s issues on defence, stemming from a combination of mentality and awareness. Yakemchuk is physical and overly aggressive, leading to hit-chasing, getting burned and failed entry denials. Yakemchuk also frequently loses his checks, misses coverage, and forgets his responsibilities. The verdict? Yakemchuk has top-pair offensive upside though it will require time, patience and a long leash. (April Rankings: #18)