“That’s Where I Want To Be”: Yakemchuk Trending To Be The Missing Piece on Ottawa’s Blue Line
Carter Yakemchuk entered the Ottawa Senators organization with a clear identity and a clear opportunity. Drafted seventh overall in the 2024 NHL Draft, the Senators selected him believing his profile could eventually address a long-standing organizational gap on the right side of the blue line. Right-shot defensemen with offensive upside are among the hardest assets to acquire in the NHL, and Ottawa identified Yakemchuk as a player who could grow into that role rather than search for it externally.
Yakemchuk’s breakout draft year in the WHL with the Calgary Hitmen vaulted him up the ranks, where he produced 71 points in 66 games, including 30 goals, finishing among the top-scoring defensemen in the Canadian Hockey League. His goal total, brought on by both the volume and quality of his shot, proved to be a weapon that consistently forced penalty kills and five-on-five coverage to extend toward the blue line. Ottawa valued his ability to drive offense without needing sheltered usage, as well as his willingness to play heavy minutes in all situations.
“That’s my goal, that’s where I want to be,” Yakemchuk said.
The organization already has its foundational piece on the left side in Jake Sanderson, and from the outset of Yakemchuk’s professional transition, the emphasis has been on learning what NHL-level detail looks like. In his first AHL season with Belleville, the Senators’ development staff has focused on defensive habits, puck decisions under pressure, and managing risk in a league where mistakes are punished more consistently than in junior.
“We watch a lot of Jake Sanderson, his details are really good,” Yakemchuk said.
Adjusting to the Pro Game in Belleville
Yakemchuk’s first professional season with the Belleville Senators has been defined by adaptation rather than immediate production. Though 21 points through 33 games for a rookie, the newly turned 20-year-old defenseman is already putting up great production.
He has been used in a variety of roles, including power-play time, while drawing matchups against older, stronger forwards who test his positioning and retrievals every night. While his offensive confidence has carried over, the pro game has required a more selective approach, especially at the offensive blue line.
“I don’t really let it bother me,” Yakemchuk said. “I think my offense will speak for itself and I think it’s translated well to the pros so far.”
That confidence is evident in how Yakemchuk continues to use his shot, even as the AHL demands quicker reads and more layers through traffic. Where junior allowed clean looks, the pro game turns that same shot into a tool to manipulate defenders and create secondary options.
“I won’t shy from taking shots like in junior,” he said. “But if the passing lane opens up because of my shot threat, I’ll take it as well.”
The physical adjustment has been just as significant. The AHL schedule compresses games and travel, requiring consistent strength and recovery to maintain performance.
“I think it’s just about getting the reps in and getting stronger,” Yakemchuk said. “That’s the biggest adjustment for me.”
Certain matchups have accelerated that learning curve. Games against Laval, Belleville’s most intense rival, have offered Yakemchuk an early taste of playoff-style hockey, with pace, emotion, and physicality elevated on both sides.
“I love playing against Laval,” Yakemchuk said. “The games are heated and they have great fans.”
That bodes well, as the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens are also very heated rivals at the NHL level. Yakemchuk looks forward to that kind of a challenge down the line.
“Those are the games you get up for,” added Yakemchuk.
A Long-Term Answer on the Right Side
Even early in his professional career, Yakemchuk understands why Ottawa invested such a premium pick in him. The Senators drafted him with the expectation that he could eventually stabilize the right side, complement Sanderson, and provide offense without sacrificing structure.
“I was drafted to be that guy on the right side and that’s what I’m working towards,” Yakemchuk said.
The idea of eventually forming a top pairing with Sanderson exists, but Yakemchuk is careful not to let long-term projections disrupt the daily work required to get there.
“Playing on a pair with Sanderson would be my goal down the line,” he said. “But I can’t think that far yet.”
For now, the focus remains on internal benchmarks: improving strength, adapting to pro pace, and learning how to impact games consistently. Yakemchuk believes that by staying within his identity and continuing to adjust, he can contribute to the organization’s push toward relevance.
“I think I can help get us into a playoff spot by continuing to play my style and get used to the pacing and physical play,” Yakemchuk said. “I know what I can bring and I think there’s more to come.”
For the Senators, the right side of the defense remains a question. In Belleville, the player drafted to eventually answer it is learning what that responsibility demands, one shift at a time.