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Talk about making a good first impression.
We had been told Carter Yakemchuk had the skills to pay the bills when the Ottawa Senators selected him No. 7 overall at the National Hockey League draft in June, but we saw that part of his game taken to another level Sunday night at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
The Ottawa Senators rookie defenceman made every highlight reel in the country Monday morning after he skated by two defenders in overtime and then beat veteran goaltender Matt Murray for the winner in the club’s 6-5 overtime victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs.
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It may have only been pre-season, but every victory over the Leafs is sweet.
Senators head coach Travis Green, who had praised the way the 18-year-old Yakemchuk had handled himself at camp earlier in the day, had a ‘Wow’ moment on the club’s bench as he watched Yakemchuk seal the win in the first round of the Battle of Ontario.
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There couldn’t have been a better stage for him to pull that off.
“To be honest, I was probably thinking ‘get rid of it,’ then he decides to take it all the way and score,” Green said. “We’ve talked about him. I’ve been impressed with him from Day 1 and the impressive part hasn’t been the offence.
“It’s been his attention to detail, willingness to learn and knowing that he has that in him. It’s a quite a night for him.”
The plan is to send the Yakemchuk, who will turn 19 next week, back to the Western Hockey League’s Calgary Hitmen so he can continue to round out his game this season and compete for Team Canada at the IIHF world junior championship being held in Ottawa later this year.
That likely won’t change, but he can force Steve Staios, the club’s president of hockey operations and general manager, along with senior vice-president Dave Poulin and assistant GM Ryan Bowness to keep Yakemchuk around long enough to start the season if can continue to excel.
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He played 23 minutes against the Leafs, including some work on the top power-play unit. Paired with alternate captain Thomas Chabot, Yakemchuk showed good poise. Let’s not get too excited because it’s only one game, but the future is bright for the right-shot blueliner.
The Toronto lineup was loaded with the club’s top players — including captain Auston Matthews along with William Nylander, Mitch Marner, John Tavares and Morgan Rielly — so this was massive challenge.
“Personally, it was just nice to see one go in,” Yakemchuk said. “There was definitely a lot of nerves coming into the game. I think I got settled down after the first couple of shifts so it kind of just went from there.”
If he can continue to improve through club’s camp, he can delay the decision by Staios to send Yakemchuk back to junior and he could possibly start the season here Oct. 10 against the Florida Panthers.
Though Chabot is scheduled to skate with veteran Nick Jensen on his right side once the season gets under way, it has been no accident that Green has paired him with Yakemchuk during the pre-season.
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“It’s just about being there for him and helping him,” Chabot said. “I had a lot of guys that did that for me when I first came here and it’s just about doing the same thing and giving (the advice) to him.
“He’s a talented player, he sees the game really well and he’s got an elite shot. You know what, there’s not much that I’m going to teach him, I think he’s already go most of it. It’s being there for him to help him with drills and make sure that when it’s our turn that it’s nice and clear.
“He’s done a hell of a job.”
Having been in this position before and growing up in the Ottawa organization, Chabot understands a lot of what will develop Yakemchuk into a full-time NHL player is time and maturity. Even if he’s sent back before the end of camp, there’s little question he’s going to play in the NHL someday.
Chabot doesn’t want to put any undue pressure on the kid.
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“We all go through it when you’re 18-or-19-years-old,” Chabot added. “You know what, you can’t look at too many things. He’s a talented player, he’s going to find his way and it’s about being here every day.
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“When I look back on my days as a young player, it’s about coming here everyday, looking at all the players, and the guys who have been around for a long time, and what whey do every single day. Whether it’s on the ice for practice, getting ready for practice or recovery.
“Those are all the things you’re trying to learn the most from and soak in so you can bring it back to junior. The next year when you come in, you’re a step ahead of where you the year before.”
The Senators had Monday off to rest, relax and recover as they prepare to host the Leafs in a pre-season rematch Tuesday night at home.
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