The Senators have a Carter Yakemchuk dilemma on their hands

Sometimes, good news is followed by not-so-good news. 

The Ottawa Senators have finally had a much healthier defensive core over the last handful of games. With Tyler Kleven set to return to the lineup tonight after Wednesday night’s game in Buffalo with an illness, their blue-line pairings are almost set. However, head coach Travis Green now faces a rather interesting dilemma: what happens with defenceman Carter Yakemchuk?

For three of the Senators' last four games, the rookie defenceman has sat in the press box in favour of Nikolas Matinpalo. With injuries to Artem Zub, Jake Sanderson and captain Thomas Chabot, there has typically been room for both of them in the lineup, but that is no longer the case. If the Senators continue to experiment with both Matinpalo and Yakemchuk on the team’s third pairing with Kleven, they would alternate spending some time in the press box. However, is sitting their 2024 first-round pick really the best decision for his development?

Yakemchuk has shown his potential

Through 14 games played so far this season, Yakemchuk has recorded a goal and two assists while averaging 17:55 of ice time. His lone goal came during the team's home opener, when Yakemchuk’s bomb of a shot on the power-play became the game-winner in the Senators' 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. 

His powerful right-handed shot alone is the reason why Yakemchuk needs a bit more time with the club. The Senators' power-play is ranked 31st in the league and is one of the team’s biggest flaws so far this season. If he can feed pucks toward the net and create opportunities from the blue line more consistently, he could become a valuable power-play weapon. He has the tools; it’s just a matter of using them consistently with his offensive awareness. Two of Yakemchuk’s three points this season have come on the power-play. 

Like most rookies, his transition to a full-time NHL defenceman hasn’t been smooth. Despite his size and shot, Yakemchuk has struggled with positioning and puck management. It is too risky to be caught puck-watching or to attempt high-risk passes at this level. With 15 giveaways and a -5 rating, he needs to make better decisions with the puck. He also needs to be more physical and use his 6’3” stature to his advantage. Yakemchuk has been credited with just one hit so far. That said, mistakes are inevitable for a young offensive defenceman finding their game in the NHL. 

Keep him, rotate him, or send him to Belleville?

Tonight, Green has Yakemchuk in the lineup over Matinpalo when the Utah Mammoth visit the Canadian Tire Centre. If Green chooses to keep Yakemchuk alongside Kleven on the third pairing, he will continue to develop through valuable NHL experience. 

However, Finnish Olympian Matinpalo has been competing for these valuable minutes as well and is also deserving of a spot. In 15 games, he has 3 assists and averages 15:06 of ice time. To make matters worse for the 21-year-old Alberta native, when paired with Kleven on the team’s third pairing, Kleven and Matinpalo have a 53.2% expected goal percentage, while Kleven and Yakemchuk have an underwhelming 29.2%.

Rotating Yakemchuk and Matinpalo is another solution that would give both defencemen opportunities. Still, in hindsight, it could make it harder for Yakemchuk to build confidence and consistency and find his game. 

Although sending him back to Belleville may not be the most welcome answer for the Senators’ fanbase, it could be the surefire way to help him keep developing and work on his game. 

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