The Ottawa Senators drafted defenseman Carter Yakemchuk with the seventh overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft on Friday.

Carter Yakemchuk

Yakemchuk dazzled with the Calgary Hitmen this season. He was a human highlight reel, often showcasing his immense skill and making opposing defenders look silly.

With 30 goals, 71 points, and 120 penalty minutes, Yakemchuk's campaign resembled that of a power forward, not a rearguard. He's the first draft-eligible defenseman to hit the 30-goal mark since Ian White in 2002.

Yakemchuk is on the older side of the class with a September 2005 birthday. He's an incredibly exciting talent with quality skating, a bomb of a shot, and legitimate high-end puck skills. Questions remain about how much one-on-one play he can get away with at the next level. He'll also need to improve defensively and cut down significantly on the amount of penalties he takes.

What they're saying

"Yakemchuk has star potential and projects to be a major minutes player in the NHL with a lot of offensive upside," The Athletic's Corey Pronman wrote.

"The dynamic elements of his game, especially in a player of his size, make him a little bit of a rarer commodity, and with a bit more development, I think the rest of his game smooths out enough for him to challenge for a top-four role," wrote FloHockey's Chris Peters.

"While his game in the WHL does come with some give and take, he's got pro size, a pro shot ... and an attack mentality that is complemented by an active disposition to eagerly jump off the line or into the rush," The Athletic's Scott Wheeler wrote.

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