Senators recall Yakemchuk, Boucher and Halliday while awaiting returns of Tkachuk, Sanderson
The Ottawa Senators will restart their season on Thursday, so they’ve called up a few reinforcements as they wait for their two gold medalist Olympians to return.
Ottawa has called up defenseman Carter Yakemchuk, winger Tyler Boucher, and center Stephen Halliday from the AHL’s Belleville Senators.
Carter Yakemchuk, Tyler Boucher and Stephen Halliday have been called up by the Ottawa Senators.
These moves are likely insurance in case winger Brady Tkachuk and defenseman Jake Sanderson, both of whom won gold on Sunday as members of the United States’ men’s Olympic hockey team, aren’t quite ready to start back up the NHL grind on Thursday.
Yakemchuk, 20, was selected seventh overall by the Senators in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. After a four-year career with the Calgary Hitmen of the WHL, the Fort McMurray, Alberta native began his professional career with Belleville this season, putting up seven goals and 18 assists for 25 points in 41 games so far. He has yet to play in the NHL.
Boucher, 23, is also a former first-round pick of the Senators, selected 10th overall in 2021. Now in his third professional season within Ottawa’s organization, he has strictly played in the AHL. This season with Belleville, the Scottsdale, Arizona native has six goals and 10 assists for 16 points in 29 games. He is the son of former NHL goaltender Brian Boucher.
Halliday, 23, has already played 25 games for Ottawa this season, notching four goals and seven assists for 11 points. In 29 games for Belleville this season, he’s scored two goals and added 27 assists for 29 points.
Ottawa enters the post-Olympics stretch run of the season with 63 points through 57 games, tied for sixth place in the Atlantic Division. They are six points back of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
The Senators will host the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday, before beginning a five-game road trip by visiting the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday.