At the 2024 NHL Draft, two teams that needed to land a player for the future were both the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens. Both teams are in playoff droughts and are looking to get out of them as soon as possible in a tough Atlantic Division.
The Senators held the seventh pick in the draft, two spots behind the Canadiens. Being in a spot behind an arch rival can be tough because teams don't want their rival landing a good player in the draft. When the selection came for the Senators, the team drafted defenseman Carter Yakemchuk.
Defense depth was a concern for the Senators entering the draft, and the team hoped Yakemchuk would be the right piece. Thus far in preseason, the Senators are laughing at the Canadiens for passing on Yakemchuk at the draft.
Canadiens drafting Ivan Demidov over Carter Yakemchuk looks worse with preseason results
Two selections before Yakemchuk fell to the Senators, the Canadiens drafted Ivan Demidov from SKA St. Petersburg Jr. in Russia. With how the 2024 preseason has gone, it appears the Senators lucked out with the Canadiens passing on Yakemchuk and drafting Demidov.
Yakemchuk has recorded five points while playing in three games in the 2024 preseason. Last night, was a game that helped Yakemchuk and the Senators stick it to the Canadiens.
With the Senators up 3-2 early in the third period, Yakemchuk scored a powerplay goal to extend the Senators lead to 4-2. Yakemchuk's goal turned out to be the game-winning goal, and it was also his second point of the game. Last night also marked Yakemchuk's second two-point game of the 2024 preseason. Senators head coach Travis Green spoke highly of Yakemchuk for his two-point game against the Canadiens.
"He's a quick learner," Green said following last night's win. "And, he did it again tonight. He looked a little behind to start the game, and then all of a sudden, he looked like he figured out the pace."
We call that a Yak Smack 💥#GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/5ruUan0nQM
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) October 2, 2024
How is Yakemchuk doing compared to Demidov? Demidov hasn't played a preseason game to get use to the NHL game and speed. Demidov is expected to join the Canadiens next season when his KHL contract runs out.
To make matters worse for the Canadiens, newly acquired Patrik Laine is now out of action for two to three months with a left knee sprain. Had Demidov not been under contract in the KHL, this would be the perfect time for him to get ready for the NHL level. Instead, Demidov can't play, and he got limited ice time in a recent KHL game. Meanwhile, the Senators are having their seventh overall pick catch the eyes of NHL fans already in preseason and play big minutes.
The young pair of Yakemchuk and Jake Sanderson has worked out in preseason. With Sanderson being young like Yakemchuk, the two are destined to be a defense pair for many years to come.
With Yakemchuk's preseason success, he has shown that he deserves to be on the Senators' opening night roster. Yakemchuk getting NHL experience over Demidov could come back and hurt the Canadiens and be a good thing for the Senators. The preseason results have shown it is hurting the Canadiens.