After surging to a formidable 12 objectives and 29 factors in 24 video games, Carter Yakemchuk hit a little bit of a droop. From Dec. 18, 2024, to Feb. 17, 2025, the high-scoring defender solely put up three objectives and 12 factors in 18 video games – a far cry from expectations. An harm that stored him out of seven contests didn’t assist issues, both, however final season, he ended with 30 objectives and 71 factors, setting a franchise file for probably the most profession objectives by a defenceman with 64. Now, the Ottawa Senators’ 2024 first-round choose is on tempo to hit simply 20 objectives and 54 factors.
Nevertheless, earlier than Senators’ followers panic, Yakemchuk’s general recreation has improved drastically, which is precisely what the crew hoped to see. Since his “droop” began, the Calgary Hitmen have solely misplaced eight video games, two of which got here throughout Yakemchuk’s absence. He’s extra constant in his finish and utilizing his dimension and pace extra to his benefit defensively, and though his offensive recreation remains to be current, he’s taking fewer careless dangers with the puck.
However what makes Yakemchuk a captivating prospect is when he can mix each, and final week, he returned to his high-scoring methods. In his final three video games, he picked up a objective and 4 factors whereas recording a plus-5, making him your Senators Prospect of the Week for Feb. 17-23, 2025.
Yakemchuk Changing into Extra Effectively-Rounded
When the Senators returned Yakemchuk to the Hitmen, the crew was clear about what they anticipated from him in his 19-year-old season. “We simply felt to maintain his development going, what’s finest for him as a participant – stability for him as effectively – that it could be finest if he went again for another 12 months of junior and performed an enormous a part of his crew in Calgary,” mentioned head coach Travis Inexperienced following the transfer. “(He must) mature and grow old. He’s going to be a degree man. We foresee him being a high defenseman within the NHL. Getting stronger bodily. He’s an enormous man. I feel there’s nonetheless a number of room for development so far as the place his power will find yourself.”
Initially, Yakemchuk obtained proper again to the place he left off, scoring a ton of factors and main the Hitmen’s offence. However after Calgary loaded up on the deadline, including defencemen Kalem Parker and Sawyer Mynio, bodily ahead Tanner Howe, and defensive centre Lukas Hansen, Yakemchuk’s function shifted. He was nonetheless on the Hitmen’s high pair, however he didn’t should wrestle to play each space. He now primarily had a security web to develop different points of his recreation with out hurting the crew’s potential to attain.
The one drawback is that Yakemchuk’s offence started to dry up. As an alternative of main the frenzy, he often hung again, establishing his place to close down a possible assault. Every week, his plus/minus rating steadily improved after being wildly inconsistent at first of the season. He nonetheless drove the puck into the offensive zone when he had the prospect, however he was turning into a greater defenceman.
Associated: Ottawa Senators Prospect of the Week – Leevi Merilainen (Feb 17)
Then got here final week. Not solely did Yakemchuk break his scoreless streak, however he helped Calgary rating 15 objectives in simply three video games. First, the Hitmen demolished the Regina Pats 5-0 and outshot them 43-14, with the Senators’ high prospect including a helper on the sport’s second objective. Two days later, they shut out the Brandon Wheat Kings with one other 5-0 victory, outshooting their opposition 47-28, and Yakemchuk led each groups with six photographs whereas scoring his first objective since Jan. 26. The Moose Jaw Warriors broke the Hitmen’s shutout streak however solely managed to get one objective by whereas Calgary cruised to a different 5-1 victory. In the meantime, Yakemchuk prolonged his level streak to a few video games along with his fourth help, his longest streak in practically a month.
There are nonetheless components of Yakemchuk’s recreation that want refining, and he’s nonetheless primarily an offensive defenceman that may use his power and dimension to ascertain place within the attacking zone. However final week secured the Hitmen a playoff berth, and their dominance late within the season guarantees to push them deep into the playoffs. That can certainly showcase one other aspect of Yakemchuk the place he can doubtlessly dominate the competitors each with and with out the puck.
Senators Honourable Mentions & Verify-Ins
After a promising preseason, Jan Jenik hasn’t had the 12 months he probably hoped he would after leaving the Utah Hockey Membership. In 26 video games with the Belleville Senators, he had simply six objectives and 10 factors, and his solely NHL recreation wasn’t a lot to put in writing house about. Nevertheless, he lastly bounced again to his early season type final week, scoring a objective and two assists in three video games, plus a shootout winner in opposition to the Cleveland Monsters on Feb. 23, incomes him the primary star of the sport. Possibly one other call-up is within the playing cards for the American Hockey League (AHL) veteran, particularly if Shane Pinto and Josh Norris are out for for much longer.
Tomas Hamara remained a point-per-game defender with one other three assists for the Brantford Bulldogs final week. The defenceman is now as much as 50 factors in 49 video games, giving him the fourth-highest level whole because the Belleville Bulls moved to Hamilton in 2015. At his present tempo, he might find yourself with the second-highest whole and inside attain of first place.
Vladimir Nikitin notched one more win to his belt, giving him an ideal 6-0-0 file since becoming a member of the Nanaimo Clippers a month in the past. His 2.28 goals-against common is first on the crew and ninth within the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL), as is his .919 save proportion. Though he had a profitable rookie marketing campaign final season earlier than returning to Kazakhstan to start out the 2024-25 season, the place he struggled to carry out in a more durable league. Nevertheless, he appears to have a bit extra swagger this go round, giving the Senators hope that he may very well be one other hidden gem goaltender of their system.
Tune in subsequent week to see which prospect stood above the remainder.
