Artem Zub’s injury has created an opening on the Senators’ blue line, and right now Carter Yakemchuk looks like the player with the clearest path to take it.
That’s the big camp question in Ottawa: is Yakemchuk ready to be an everyday NHL defenseman?
The signs are mixed, but the upside is obvious. Yakemchuk made an immediate splash in his regular-season debut last March, scoring a goal and adding an assist.
He followed that up with two assists in his playoff debut against Carolina. Those moments showed why the Senators are intrigued.
They also showed why the next step matters so much.
Ottawa would love to have him fully prepared for full-time duty right now, especially with the right side of the defense already in flux after Nick Jensen left in free agency. Before Zub’s injury, Yakemchuk had been looking at a battle with Nikolas Matinpalo for a regular third-pair role, with Zub and Jordan Spence projected to handle the heavier minutes above them.
For a young defenseman, the difference between being the sixth or seventh option and playing every night is huge. At 20, Yakemchuk needs reps. Sitting in the press box too often as a spare would not do much for his growth.
So far, though, camp and two preseason games have shown a player who is still learning the finer points of the position. He looks comfortable when Ottawa has the puck, but his skating and his reads without it remain works in progress.
Wednesday’s split-squad game in Toronto was a tougher test than most. With Sanderson, Zub and Spence unavailable, and Thomas Chabot out for family reasons, Yakemchuk was thrust into a massive role against a strong Leafs lineup and logged 25:29. That is a very different assignment from the sheltered minutes he saw in his brief NHL appearances last season, or the No. 6 job he seems better suited for right now.
The Senators were beaten 6-1, and Yakemchuk had a rough night. Still, it would be a mistake to treat that game as the final word on his readiness. Ottawa will look at the broader camp body of work before making any call.
One possible clue about how the coaches see him: Yakemchuk has been skating alongside Tyler Kleven, which could point to the third pair the Senators want to roll out to start the season. Kleven had positive things to say about the rookie on Thursday, though his comments also touched on confidence, the fact that everyone makes mistakes early, and the time it takes to adjust to the NHL.
The attraction to Yakemchuk has always been easy to spot. In his draft year with the Calgary Hitmen, he put up 30 goals and 71 points in 66 games, along with 120 penalty minutes.
A big right-shot defenseman with that kind of offensive punch, size and edge was always going to stand out. His shot is elite, and it could become a real power-play weapon for the Senators.
If Ottawa decides he still needs more time in Belleville, the team would still have to find another right-shot defenseman for the third pair behind Spence and Matinpalo. There isn’t an obvious answer sitting there.
Hoyt Stanley has earned a look and scored on a slick backhand against Toronto on Wednesday. Christian Kyrou brings offense from the right side.
Djibril Touré, who stands 6-foot-7, offers size and physicality and moves well for his frame. Cameron Crotty, a native of Ottawa, looks steady and has already played NHL games for the Senators.
Green could also go with a left-shot defenseman if he believes that player gives him the best lineup. But on opening night last year, he showed he prefers to keep his defensemen on their natural side. When Kleven was injured, Green filled in with another lefty in Donovan Sebrango, who had only two career NHL games at the time, while the more experienced right-shot Spence was left as a healthy scratch.
For now, Zub’s absence and the lack of other clear options put Yakemchuk in the driver’s seat to open the year in Ottawa. Whether that is the best place for his development is still something the Senators will have to sort out.
In Other News...
Senators Blue Line Suddenly Has An Opening Night Concern
The Senators are still sorting through their defense as they head into the second night of preseason action, and the timing is not ideal with the club splitting into two groups for simultaneous games against Montreal. Ottawa has been using these exhibition looks to evaluate players and defensive combinations, but the blue line has already been forced to absorb some early absences while the coaching staff keeps a close eye on who can handle more responsibility.
Jake Sanderson and Artem Zub both remain unavailable, leaving a noticeable hole in the mix on a unit that is trying to get settled before the games start counting. Travis Green has said Sandersons issue is minor, which offers some reassurance, but the bigger question for Ottawa is how long this patchwork situation lasts and what it means for the opening night picture if the defense does not get whole again soon. [Read more 🡒]
Senators Roster Battle Took A Tough Turn Against Toronto's Split Squad
The Senators roster competition got another layer of urgency Thursday night at Canadian Tire Centre, where Torontos split squad came away with a 4-2 preseason win even without its biggest stars in the lineup. It was the kind of game built around players trying to make an impression, with both sides leaning on hopefuls and depth pieces rather than established names, and Ottawa still managed to find a moment that suggested the night might swing its way.
Hoyt Stanley gave the Senators a brief lift when he tied the game in the third period, but the Leafs answered and regained control in the closing stretch to leave Ottawa with another reminder of how tight these battles can be this time of year. Henrik Rybinski and Steven Lorentz were among the goal scorers in a game that had the feel of a final audition, and now the Senators turn to their preseason finale against the Canadiens with a few roster decisions still hanging in the balance. [Read more 🡒]
Senators Just Forced A Bigger Question About Leevi Merilainen
A rough night in Toronto has already pushed Leevi Merilainen into a familiar but far less comfortable kind of NHL conversation. The Senators placed the young goaltender on waivers after a difficult recent outing, a move that underlined just how quickly the depth chart can change when a backup or developmental netminder starts to wobble. Ottawa has seen enough volatility in goal to know these decisions can carry real weight, especially with a player still trying to establish himself.
If Merilainen clears, the next stop would be Belleville in the American Hockey League, which would mark the first time in his career he has needed waivers to get there. That detail matters for Ottawa because it turns a routine roster shuffle into a bigger question about where he stands in the organizations long-term plans, and how much patience the club still has as it tries to sort out its goaltending picture. [Read more 🡒]