RD Carter Yakemchuk - Calgary Hitmen, WHL (2024, 7th, OTT)

[bert]

Big fast and highly skilled d-man that has a nasty snarled edge to his game with a great shot. His knocks were iq and skating. He has solid enough iq, got questioned due to him basically abusing his skillset at the junior level essentially and his skating could be cleaned up with through training and heavy focus on edges and off ice training. He is a very unique prospect, unicorn defenseman with a very high ceiling but a lower floor. Burns is my high end comp and risto the low end comp however he put to rest my concerns with his iq and will at least be a positive impact physical bottom pairing d-man that could qb a pp. I could also seee him ending up a 20-30 goal d-man who loves to hit like a truck and can man/drive a breakout.

HIs hockey IQ might be his biggest strength, he reads the play incredibly well and the puck follows him around the ice. I watched him a bunch never understood how it was a negative, thats why he gets away with his skating because he is always around it. Defensively and his skating need work but for a raw big teenager those are both coachable. His skating will naturally get better as he gets stronger and matures. The sky is the limit with this player, RHD to boot.

 

[majormajor]

Big fast and highly skilled d-man that has a nasty snarled edge to his game with a great shot. His knocks were iq and skating. He has solid enough iq, got questioned due to him basically abusing his skillset at the junior level essentially and his skating could be cleaned up with through training and heavy focus on edges and off ice training. He is a very unique prospect, unicorn defenseman with a very high ceiling but a lower floor. Burns is my high end comp and risto the low end comp however he put to rest my concerns with his iq and will at least be a positive impact physical bottom pairing d-man that could qb a pp. I could also seee him ending up a 20-30 goal d-man who loves to hit like a truck and can man/drive a breakout.

His floor is above Risto. The passing, the vision, it's all high whereas Risto was low.

 

[Faceboner]

HIs hockey IQ might be his biggest strength, he reads the play incredibly well and the puck follows him around the ice. I watched him a bunch never understood how it was a negative, thats why he gets away with his skating because he is always around it. Defensively and his skating need work but for a raw big teenager those are both coachable. His skating will naturally get better as he gets stronger and matures. The sky is the limit with this player, RHD to boot.

Yep his iq was a knock only because he was a big physically imposing and skilled player it is high end as a prospect but don't know how high end it is at the NHL level well nobody does yet have to keep in mind the influx of other youth talent coming up along with the already great yet young crop of d-core. For instance I don't think his iq is as high as Buium or Dickinson but better than parekh or lev

 

[Sting]

Yep his iq was a knock only because he was a big physically imposing and skilled player it is high end as a prospect but don't know how high end it is at the NHL level well nobody does yet have to keep in mind the influx of other youth talent coming up along with the already great yet young crop of d-core. For instance I don't think his iq is as high as Buium or Dickinson but better than parekh or lev

I've been watching this game for many years now and I've seen a lot of great players come through. I watched Karlsson's development from a rookie to star to world-class player and I can tell you Yakemchuk has elite hockey sense.

Where he obviously needs work is his edges/turns and improving foot speed a little. That'll come with time.

I think he has earned his 9 games unless his play really falls off a cliff.

 

[Faceboner]

I've been watching this game for many years now and I've seen a lot of great players come through. I watched Karlsson's development from a rookie to star to world-class player and I can tell you Yakemchuk has elite hockey sense.

Where he obviously needs work is his edges/turns and improving foot speed a little. That'll come with time.

I think he has earned his 9 games unless his play really falls off a cliff.

If he shows well enough you think he gets more than 9 games?

 

[bert]

If he shows well enough you think he gets more than 9 games?

His offensive IQ is certainly higher than Dickinsons to answer your last post but probably not defensively.

This is a good question, I keep saying they have to send him back but literally he just keeps getting better. Or at the bare minimum stays the same, however he hasnt played a real NHL game yet so its hard to say. He creates alot of offense though, his puck poise and ability to get into dangerous offensive situations is just simply an un teachable skill. He also seems to be able to bounce back, he had a turnover for a goal against Montreal that likely would have folded most rookies (all 3 forwards blew the zone and his clear hit the ref, unbelievable 3 nhl forwards are outside the blue line when the puck is on the goal line at 5 on 5). But anyways he just brushed it off and made plays after that happened. Takes a special type of confidence to do that.

His skating needs work though, I think defensively it will catch up to him so I think he probably goes back but id be shocked if he doesnt get a few games before it happens.

 

[Faceboner]

His offensive IQ is certainly higher than Dickinsons to answer your last post but probably not defensively.

This is a good question, I keep saying they have to send him back but literally he just keeps getting better. Or at the bare minimum stays the same, however he hasnt played a real NHL game yet so its hard to say. He creates alot of offense though, his puck poise and ability to get into dangerous offensive situations is just simply an un teachable skill. He also seems to be able to bounce back, he had a turnover for a goal against Montreal that likely would have folded most rookies (all 3 forwards blew the zone and his clear hit the ref, unbelievable 3 nhl forwards are outside the blue line when the puck is on the goal line at 5 on 5). But anyways he just brushed it off and made plays after that happened. Takes a special type of confidence to do that.

His skating needs work though, I think defensively it will catch up to him so I think he probably goes back but id be shocked if he doesnt get a few games before it happens.

That's the other thing I think his defense only really improves in the NHL he was to offensively dominant in juniors to really scope out his defense. I'm sure like you said, the off puck play will improve

 

[Boxscore]

I'm a big fan of his game — just a joy to watch. Big, lanky, can scoot, shoot, and make plays. The Sens sure have a good one here. Reminds me of a mix between a young Rob Blake and Dougie Hamilton.

 

[Hollel]

So pissed I had to spend all draft season being gas lit by public scouts trying to convince his skating was going to hold him back long term from the NHL. I am also begging people to better understand how a player utilizes his skating strengths and weaknesses. Long way to go still but I hope Sens fans are stoked

 

[Garbageyuk]

Leading up to this past draft, I was pretty vocal about saying that I saw all six of the top ranked D as better prospects than David Reinbacher. I got a lot of shit from my fellow Habs fans for it, and they really seemed to take issue with Yakemchuk in particular for some reason.

How do you like me now?

 

[MXD]

... He seems clearly not quite ready, but he has also a lot of tools to work with.

 

[Sting]

... He seems clearly not quite ready, but he has also a lot of tools to work with.

The word clearly strikes me as odd here because he has been one of Ottawas best dmen in the preseason as a just-turned 19 year old. Doesn't look out of place.

From a pure development standpoint I believe he'll be sent down. But he's probably better than both bottom pairing D.

 

[MXD]

The word clearly strikes me as odd here because he has been one of Ottawas best dmen in the preseason as a just-turned 19 year old. Doesn't look out of place.

From a pure development standpoint I believe he'll be sent down. But he's probably better than both bottom pairing D.

He looked great because of the tools.

 

[Fatass]

The word clearly strikes me as odd here because he has been one of Ottawas best dmen in the preseason as a just-turned 19 year old. Doesn't look out of place.

From a pure development standpoint I believe he'll be sent down. But he's probably better than both bottom pairing D.

Imo the Sens need to keep him up, at least for now. He’s been their second best D man so far and by a lot. Sanderson is obviously a very good player and the Sens current 1D. But this Yaks kid is not far behind and will be the Sens top dog really soon. The players all want the best chance to win. And they have to know their chances go up (a lot) with keeping Yaks.

 

[Bjornar Moxnes]

His offensive IQ is certainly higher than Dickinsons to answer your last post but probably not defensively.

This is a good question, I keep saying they have to send him back but literally he just keeps getting better. Or at the bare minimum stays the same, however he hasnt played a real NHL game yet so its hard to say. He creates alot of offense though, his puck poise and ability to get into dangerous offensive situations is just simply an un teachable skill. He also seems to be able to bounce back, he had a turnover for a goal against Montreal that likely would have folded most rookies (all 3 forwards blew the zone and his clear hit the ref, unbelievable 3 nhl forwards are outside the blue line when the puck is on the goal line at 5 on 5). But anyways he just brushed it off and made plays after that happened. Takes a special type of confidence to do that.

His skating needs work though, I think defensively it will catch up to him so I think he probably goes back but id be shocked if he doesnt get a few games before it happens.

IDK Dickinson seems likke a less intelligent Sanderson.

 

[bert]

IDK Dickinson seems likke a less intelligent Sanderson.

Fair, Yakemchuk's offensive IQ is on another level than Sanderson at this age. Defensively not nearly as good as Sanderson.

 

[Masked]

I mean Chabot, sure.

I wouldn't rule Sanderson out yet.

With Chabot they had the #8 PP in 2022-3.

 

[ReginKarlssonLehner]

Another 2 points. 2 big plays nonetheless including terrific pass to set up OT winner.

7 points in 4 games.

He'll be a star.

 

[DuklaNation]

This is what a true PP QB looks like.

 

[Akrapovince]

I hated the Tkachuk pick, I hated the Sanderson pick, I was disappointed Stützle fell to us instead of Byfield and I was mad with the Yakemchuk pick.

I liked the Boucher pick.

 

[SensontheRush]

I hated the Tkachuk pick, I hated the Sanderson pick, I was disappointed Stützle fell to us instead of Byfield and I was mad with the Yakemchuk pick.

I liked the Boucher pick.

Boucher will be an NHLer next year, so you can hang your hat on that one haha.

 

[Samsquanch]

He has exploded in value since the draft, and he deserves every bit of it. This prospect is a clear case of a player that has tools and talents that cant be taught. His size and nasty level were never in question - but his IQ and offensive game were massively undervalued in the draft, along with his ability to defend already at such a young age.

Why arent there more BIG dynamic bruisers on the blueline (especially right handed ones lol). You dont need it to look pretty or be a figure skater our there - just get to where you need to be, and make a good play from there. He honestly makes it look so easy....

 

[Danarqhy]

YakemBEAST. Dude is gonna play the whole year in the NHL and go PPG+ at this rate, what a steal at the draft!

 

[Agent Zuuuub]

He has exploded in value since the draft, and he deserves every bit of it. This prospect is a clear case of a player that has tools and talents that cant be taught. His size and nasty level were never in question - but his IQ and offensive game were massively undervalued in the draft, along with his ability to defend already at such a young age.

Why arent there more BIG dynamic bruisers on the blueline (especially right handed ones lol). You dont need it to look pretty or be a figure skater our there. He honestly makes it look so easy....

He's been looking like Mark Stone lol.

Never going fast but quick heads up decisions. Puck magnet that lulls players close to him and hits the open man.

 

[Samsquanch]

He's been looking like Mark Stone lol.

Never going fast but quick heads up decisions. Puck magnet that lulls players close to him and hits the open man.

Crazy because I was literally going to compare him to Mark Stone (were both Sens fans so Im not going to lose my hat, but wow). They just get to the right place and let the hands take over.

Having said that, for such a passionate and brilliant high iQ player - Mark Stone, who is 6'3" with uncanny timing and the ability to get to the right spot - he is remarkably not physical. He could be 5'5" and it would make no difference at all in his game tbh. Maybe less solid on his stick, but more agile and light on his skates?

Yamerchuk is physical though, and in no way shy about contact. His size and strength is an asset. And he will be vvery hard to play against so long as he stays motivated.