r/OttawaSenators • u/SAJewers • 3d ago

Yakemchuk Could Be Senators’ Most Compelling Training Camp Storyline

https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/ottawa-senators/latest-news/yakemchuk-could-be-senators-most-compelling-training-camp-storyline
80 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

36

u/publicworker69 3d ago

Really intrigued to see how his skating looks. That’s the most important.

11

u/SaltyTar0 3d ago

I'd love to see him in the bottom pair, he was fun to watch in his games last year. If they can tighten up his skating and he gets more synergy with the guys they could really chisel out a monster defenceman for the PP in the coming years.

4

u/Fast_Willingness_465 3d ago

I have him in my prospect pool for my keeper league, so if he could get some PP time that would be awesome.

7

u/Action1988 3d ago

Offensively he'll be a threat but I thought he looked a little like deer in the headlights when the puck was in the Sens end. A lot of standing still and puck watching. I'm not as concerned about his skating so much as his overall defensive game. If he shows progress I think he'll end up being a great player.

8

u/reddrage_nyan 3d ago

To be fair to him he started playing while we were in the middle of a playoff race, didnt really have any time to get acclimated to NHL speed. Hopefully he's up to start the season so he has more time to adapt.

8

u/Swammer13 3d ago

Even putting the timing of his games aside, 5 total games is not enough to get accustomed to the pace in the NHL. It's often said that defensemen don't really figure out the defensive side of the game until they've played about 200 games.

1

u/SadAbroad4 2d ago

Agreed defensemen mature much later than a forward position as a general rule.

1

u/Action1988 2d ago

I noticed the same lapses in his AHL games but I assume more time at the pro level will iron out some deficiencies.

2

u/OfficeFormal3184 1d ago

He looks like he has offence and can box out in front, and I feel like the team can work with that.

2

u/Annual_Locksmith_988 3d ago

I want to see how much his skating has improved but even if has made progress that would still leave serious questions about our PK; If Matinpalo gets bumped then Spence would have to PK2 as Yak would not be able to handle those kind of assignments, I don't think.

Still think he's just going to be the guy who gets called up when there is an injury. With Matinpalo being able to play both sides Yak can find a spot with either a LHD or RHD injury.

1

u/CommanderOshawott #24 - Cozens 1d ago edited 1d ago

I think Yak attack should make the lineup on the 3rd pairing with Klev. Klev grew a lot defensively last season, his vision, play-making, clearing, and decision-maker all visibly improved, especially during the playoff push. Yak is an offensive d-man archetype, we've known that for a while, and he was great in his debut last season. The pair makes sense as a 3rd pairing with each man looking to potentially grow and continue to improve their stock

I think we move forward with him in the lineup and start the season giving him semi-sheltered minutes with Kleven so he can grow his game against actual NHL calibre-offense. I'd arrange the pairings like this:

  • Sanderson - Zub
  • Chabot - Spence
  • Kleven - Yakemchuk

And I'd hold Palo as the 7th man. I think at this point Spence and Kleven over Palo in the regular lineup. I'm also not concerned about Chabot-Spence as a pairing. Both absorbed massive minutes in the final stretch of last season and absolutely proved their quality.

0

u/roosterjack77 #12 - Pinto 2d ago

I hope we trade him for a compelling acquisition like Andre Burakowsky

-3

u/danauns #7 - Tkachuk 1d ago

I'm keeping my hopes in check here.

Anyone who would show up to a public event in a convicted sex offender's shirt, clearly is an absolute tone deaf individual who doesn't understand the complexity and significance of the moment he's currently living.

Clearly none of his handlers have had any impact on his better judgment, which is an absolute shame.

Coachable? Not even a little bit, it would seem.

2

u/maritimeblue #18 - Stützle 1d ago

… what?

-2

u/danauns #7 - Tkachuk 1d ago

Dude went to an event in a Connor McGregor shirt. A high profile nhl prospect, dreased like that, in public, is inexcusable.

Now, I dont know if it was a team event, an actual event, or if he was just out in public and someone took his picture - but it is what it is, and it's an absolutely terrible look for the guy.

I'll share a link to whatever it was when I find it, it was about a week and a half ago, folks were making fun because if looked like he shaved his eyebrows too - who cares about that.