With a myriad of injuries on Ottawa's blueline, Yakemchuk was recalled from Belleville (AHL) and made an unexpected NHL debut this season. The 20-year-old, seventh-overall pick from the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, scoring two points (1G / 1A) in four games with Ottawa, but with healthy bodies drawing back into the lineup, he will return to Belleville (AHL).
Injuries to Jake Sanderson and Thomas Chabot recently awarded Yakemchuk a call-up from Belleville (AHL) to make his NHL debut and see steady deployment on Ottawa's top powerplay unit. That said, the 20-year-old Yakemchuk's presence in Ottawa's lineup will be halted at least temporarily due to a concussion. He has two points (1G / 1A) in four games this season.
With injuries piling up on Ottawa's blueline, the team has recalled Yakemchuk, their seventh-overall pick from the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. The 20-year-old defenseman has yet to play an NHL game, but has been solid in his first professional season, scoring 36 points (10G / 26A) in 50 games with Belleville (AHL).
Yakemchuk was Ottawa's 2024 1st round pick (7th overall) and signed a three-year, entry-level contract on Tuesday. The 18-year-old defenseman has spent the last three seasons with Calgary (WHL) and shot his way up draft boards in 2023-24 after scoring 30 goals and 71 points in 66 games played. He is expected to return to Calgary for the 2024-25 season.
