2023-24 Senators Prospect Watch

[Burrowsaurus]

Size is a common denominator, I just don't think that is all that they see with Yakemchuk.

There are major disagreements across fans and experts on his skating, his IQ, his offensive upside, and even his coachability. His size is obviously a huge advantage at lower levels, but those factors (and others) will determine if he can make it an advantage at the NHL level.

You are clearly extremely low on him; our scouts are clearly extremely high on him. Most likely he will end up somewhere in the middle. Likewise, the top D of this draft will likely all be overrated and underrated a hundred times before we see what they really are.

Why on earth would he end up somewhere in the middle between my opinion and the scouts opinion. I would hope that’s not the case I don’t know what I’m talking about

 

[The Devilish Buffoon]

Why on earth would he end up somewhere in the middle between my opinion and the scouts opinion. I would hope that’s not the case I don’t know what I’m talking about

I know you dont and I didnt mean to imply otherwise. I guess I will just say, reread the phrase “somewhere in the middle”, try to figure out what it actually means, and maybe you will get what I am actually saying.

Good takeaway, though.

 

[OD99]

I recognize this is a bit of homer spin, but I have seen junior players try to do too much and take themselves out of position when they think they can, "do it all".

We most likely see Yak play a more reserved and careful pro game, at least to start. That may alleviate some of the more glaring errors as he adjusts.

Plus, we always talk about big forwards taking time and D in general, so I am going to have lots of patience for him.

This is a far cry from Boucher and I won't let that pick scar me! LOL

 

[Senator Stanley]

Likewise I went from watching 1ish games a week throughout the season to every playoff game this far. That’s essentially what I’ve been projecting him as, a solid #3/4 who puts up 35ish points a year.

His skating and athleticism combo is terrifying for me, and I really, really don’t like his decision making when things happen quickly. Twice the past 2 games he’s made the decision to leave his lane on a 2 on 1/2 and went directly into his partners lane, both resulting in goals, and I’ve seen that many times throughout the season, I highlighted that same issue specifically in one post a while ago after a game in the regular season with a highlight.

He has tools that no other guy has, the size, physical play, puck skills and shot combination is tantalizing. But I put a ton of value on skating and IQ, and I really don’t see positives in either for the NHL game (not that it matters I’m a schmuck on the internet)

The skating bothers me less when I start thinking of him more in the Ekholm/Parayko mold (obviously, those two being high-end outcomes) and less as a play driving offensive defenceman. I think he'll be able to skate well enough if he puts in the work, and the progress he's made since the draft suggests he's doing that.

 

[BondraTime]

The skating bothers me less when I start thinking of him more in the Ekholm/Parayko mold (obviously, those two being high-end outcomes) and less as a play driving offensive defenceman. I think he'll be able to skate well enough if he puts in the work, and the progress he's made since the draft suggests he's doing that.

I don’t see either of those guys as comparable outcomes, he’s not exactly known for his defence like those guys. But if he can turn into that type of guy we should be happy.

Here’s hoping, that would be an outstanding outcome.

 

[Gil Gunderson]

I hear testimonies that he’s improved his defensive game and skating, then I hear something thst makes him sound exactly like Logan Brown.

 

[BondraTime]

I hear testimonies that he’s improved his decensive game and skating, then I hear something thst makes him sound exactly like Logan Brown.

I don’t think there are any Logan Brown worries, he had zero pulse

 

[Senator Stanley]

I don’t see either of those guys as comparable outcomes, he’s not exactly known for his defence like those guys. But if he can turn into that type of guy we should be happy.

Here’s hoping, that would be an outstanding outcome.

You wouldn't if you think he's lacking in IQ, and if you've watched a lot of him and come to that conclusion I won't try to talk you out of it. IQ/hockey sense is hard to evaluate and hard to discuss. I can only say that I, a fellow internet schmuck, don't see him as a low IQ player.

 

[Burrowsaurus]

I know you dont and I didnt mean to imply otherwise. I guess I will just say, reread the phrase “somewhere in the middle”, try to figure out what it actually means, and maybe you will get what I am actually saying.

Good takeaway, though.

The scouts should be right. And I should be dead wrong

 

[Burrowsaurus]

I don’t think there are any Logan Brown worries, he had zero pulse

I made the Logan brown comparison last night.

Someone who watches him more said that last night was bad and uncharacteristic. So I defer to them

 

[Burrowsaurus]

I hear testimonies that he’s improved his decensive game and skating, then I hear something thst makes him sound exactly like Logan Brown.

I said that last night. Apparently uncharacteristic game.



It’s hard to say if he’s improved defensively. It’s a better team than last year playing a much different style. So has he improved? Or is he just chilling back there more

 

[Gil Gunderson]

I said that last night. Apparently uncharacteristic game.



It’s hard to say if he’s improved defensively. It’s a better team than last year playing a much different style. So has he improved? Or is he just chilling back there more

Logan Brown was someone who had all the tools and offensive vision, but often looked like he was on xanax. I think that’s the the comparison is there for me.

 

[BondraTime]

m

You wouldn't if you think he's lacking in IQ, and if you've watched a lot of him and come to that conclusion I won't try to talk you out of it. IQ/hockey sense is hard to evaluate and hard to discuss. I can only say that I, a fellow internet schmuck, don't see him as a low IQ player.

Absolutely, and I’ve been wrong more than enough times to know there’s a good likelihood you could be correct

 

[Burrowsaurus]

Logan Brown was someone who had all the tools and offensive vision, but often looked like he was on xanax. I think that’s the the comparison is there for me.

Don’t think Yakemchuk has all the tools. Don’t think brown did either. Brown simply wasn’t good enough at anything to overcome that skating AND he wasn’t willing to do anything

 

[mianjo]

Calgary down 4-0 after 2nd

 

[mianjo]

Yak took a pen at 2nd 6:52, Lethbridge opened the scoring on the PP at 2nd 7:58 which opened the floodgates for Lethbridge who scored at 13:45, 18:37 and 18:57 of the 2nd.
It's now 4-1
and now 5-1

Yak -2

Lethbridge wins 5-1, series tied 3-3, game 7 Wed Apr 23 @ Calgary

 

[Sens in Process]

Yakemchuk was the only Calgary player that consistently created anything offensively. Sets up Tulk with a beautiful pass who misses an open net; almost scores a goal, but the the puck is cleared on the goal line. He looked dangerous at times with the puck.

The 5-3 on slash, are you kidding me? Call Yak and the embellishment and move on. The Lethbridge player massively sold it. Yak was slashed in the groin in a similar play in earlier in these playoffs, dropped like sack a potatoes and the play resulted in 4 on 4 - one for slashing and one for embellishing. The same should of applied here. Somehow Mynio cross-checks a guy in the throat and no call. Yak draws a penalty by falling down down - weird refereeing. Refs started to overcorrect as they knew they tilted the scales too much.

Game 7 on Wednesday

 

[Sens in Process]

Throughout the season, it's been clear that Yakemchuk plays on a team with limited puck skills, creativity, and speed. Kindel and Tulk, the main offensive drivers of the forward group, are small and not particularly fast for their size. It would make a significant difference if Yakemchuk had a forward—or forwards—with elite puck control who could consistently find him in scoring positions. Why is he rarely set up for a one-timer in the Ovechkin spot on the power play? He seems open at times. I've seen other top defensive prospects, who shall remain nameless, patiently wait in the hashmarks while their team cycles the puck in the offensive zone. Then, a teammate delivers a backhand saucer pass against the grain, through traffic, hashmark to hashmark, tape to tape, for a one-timer.

Calgary scored only 16 more goals than last season but reduced their goals against by 70 in respective regular seasons. Their improved record is largely due to a much stronger defensive game. Offensively, they remain lackluster.

Calgary is not a possession team. Lethbridge has dominated play in this series. Calgary has managed just 16 goals in six games, with at least two being empty-netters. That’s 14 with a goalie in net—other CHL teams can score that in two games. Lethbridge has 21 - no empty netters.

Say what you want about Yakemchuk, but his degree of difficulty is immense. He’s expected to be the top defensive player while simultaneously driving the offense.

I thought Yakenchuk was good defensively last night - the second Lethbridge goal by Yager. Yakemchuk blocked a shot and followed a player into the corner to neutralize him, but that player found Yager. Where was the rotation? Aura was slow to react and cover Yager, and there was no forward support. Yakemchuk also made a beautiful play to break up what looked like a 3-on-1.

We have comparisons of Yakemchuk to Logan Brown, who had very high IQ, but no motor,

And with other people, we have them questioning his hockey IQ.

 

[Icelevel]

Throughout the season, it's been clear that Yakemchuk plays on a team with limited puck skills, creativity, and speed. Kindel and Tulk, the main offensive drivers of the forward group, are small and not particularly fast for their size. It would make a significant difference if Yakemchuk had a forward—or forwards—with elite puck control who could consistently find him in scoring positions. Why is he rarely set up for a one-timer in the Ovechkin spot on the power play? He seems open at times. I've seen other top defensive prospects, who shall remain nameless, patiently wait in the hashmarks while their team cycles the puck in the offensive zone. Then, a teammate delivers a backhand saucer pass against the grain, through traffic, hashmark to hashmark, tape to tape, for a one-timer.

Calgary scored only 16 more goals than last season but reduced their goals against by 70 in respective regular seasons. Their improved record is largely due to a much stronger defensive game. Offensively, they remain lackluster.

Calgary is not a possession team. Lethbridge has dominated play in this series. Calgary has managed just 16 goals in six games, with at least two being empty-netters. That’s 14 with a goalie in net—other CHL teams can score that in two games. Lethbridge has 21 - no empty netters.

Say what you want about Yakemchuk, but his degree of difficulty is immense. He’s expected to be the top defensive player while simultaneously driving the offense.

I thought Yakenchuk was good defensively last night - the second Lethbridge goal by Yager. Yakemchuk blocked a shot and followed a player into the corner to neutralize him, but that player found Yager. Where was the rotation? Aura was slow to react and cover Yager, and there was no forward support. Yakemchuk also made a beautiful play to break up what looked like a 3-on-1.

We have comparisons of Yakemchuk to Logan Brown, who had very high IQ, but no motor,

And with other people, we have them questioning his hockey IQ.

Anyone who compares yakemchuk to L. brown is not worth listening to. That’s casual surface level analysis. Not relevant.

 

[BondraTime]

Throughout the season, it's been clear that Yakemchuk plays on a team with limited puck skills, creativity, and speed. Kindel and Tulk, the main offensive drivers of the forward group, are small and not particularly fast for their size. It would make a significant difference if Yakemchuk had a forward—or forwards—with elite puck control who could consistently find him in scoring positions. Why is he rarely set up for a one-timer in the Ovechkin spot on the power play? He seems open at times. I've seen other top defensive prospects, who shall remain nameless, patiently wait in the hashmarks while their team cycles the puck in the offensive zone. Then, a teammate delivers a backhand saucer pass against the grain, through traffic, hashmark to hashmark, tape to tape, for a one-timer.

Calgary scored only 16 more goals than last season but reduced their goals against by 70 in respective regular seasons. Their improved record is largely due to a much stronger defensive game. Offensively, they remain lackluster.

Calgary is not a possession team. Lethbridge has dominated play in this series. Calgary has managed just 16 goals in six games, with at least two being empty-netters. That’s 14 with a goalie in net—other CHL teams can score that in two games. Lethbridge has 21 - no empty netters.

Say what you want about Yakemchuk, but his degree of difficulty is immense. He’s expected to be the top defensive player while simultaneously driving the offense.

I thought Yakenchuk was good defensively last night - the second Lethbridge goal by Yager. Yakemchuk blocked a shot and followed a player into the corner to neutralize him, but that player found Yager. Where was the rotation? Aura was slow to react and cover Yager, and there was no forward support. Yakemchuk also made a beautiful play to break up what looked like a 3-on-1.

We have comparisons of Yakemchuk to Logan Brown, who had very high IQ, but no motor,

And with other people, we have them questioning his hockey IQ.

The comparison to Logan Brown, which I disagree with, is because he is being pegged as lifeless with no motor like Brown, not a comparison to any skill in particular like IQ .

It’s been discussed for the better part of the season that it looks like he isn’t trying, has terrible body language, and has a bad attitude. Thats where the Brown comparison comes from, which I don’t agree with.

 

[Sens in Process]

The comparison to Logan Brown, which I disagree with, is because he is being pegged as lifeless with no motor like Brown, not any skill in particular.

It’s been discussed for the better part of the season that it looks like he isn’t trying, has terrible body language, and has a bad attitude. Thats where the Brown comparison comes from, which I don’t agree with.

That whole sentiment is a really bad take.

 

[BondraTime]

That whole sentiment is a really bad take.

I don’t agree with it all, I’ve stated that I disagree with those thoughts whenever it’s been bright up here, but it’s been repeated all year by people here and in the Yakemchuk thread on the main boards. That’s why Brown gets bright up, because he has a “poor effort level”, “isn’t trying”, “looks lifeless”, “maybe it’s a level of disinterest”, “requested a trade from Calgary because he doesn’t like the coach”, etc. (all pulled from people who weren’t Sens fans on the main boards, which is to be taken with a large grain of salt as most here is)

 

[Senator Stanley]

Yakemchuk was the only Calgary player that consistently created anything offensively. Sets up Tulk with a beautiful pass who misses an open net; almost scores a goal, but the the puck is cleared on the goal line. He looked dangerous at times with the puck.

The 5-3 on slash, are you kidding me? Call Yak and the embellishment and move on. The Lethbridge player massively sold it. Yak was slashed in the groin in a similar play in earlier in these playoffs, dropped like sack a potatoes and the play resulted in 4 on 4 - one for slashing and one for embellishing. The same should of applied here. Somehow Mynio cross-checks a guy in the throat and no call. Yak draws a penalty by falling down down - weird refereeing. Refs started to overcorrect as they knew they tilted the scales too much.

Game 7 on Wednesday

I only caught the first period before the wheels came off. The 5 on 3 was a real turning point, it seems, and Yakemchuk has to know better than to engage. It was bad luck his stick snapped on the play and it's frustrating I'm sure to see the Lethbridge guy sell it, but there was no reason to cross check the guy in the first place. It's the type of immaturity we'd see from Ridly Greig back in the WHL, where you just shake your head and think "why??".

 

[aragorn]

I only caught the first period before the wheels came off. The 5 on 3 was a real turning point, it seems, and Yakemchuk has to know better than to engage. It was bad luck his stick snapped on the play and it's frustrating I'm sure to see the Lethbridge guy sell it, but there was no reason to cross check the guy in the first place. It's the type of immaturity we'd see from Ridly Greig back in the WHL, where you just shake your head and think "why??".

And Greig has turned into a great player who is not afraid to engage & now plays a really smart game & is great on the PK.

 

[Micklebot]

I only caught the first period before the wheels came off. The 5 on 3 was a real turning point, it seems, and Yakemchuk has to know better than to engage. It was bad luck his stick snapped on the play and it's frustrating I'm sure to see the Lethbridge guy sell it, but there was no reason to cross check the guy in the first place. It's the type of immaturity we'd see from Ridly Greig back in the WHL, where you just shake your head and think "why??".

It's a lot easier to get guys to dial back the aggression than it is to introduce it to a guy's game that doesn't naturally play on the edge.