It’s that time of the year for The Win Column’s NHL Draft Profiles! In the last two weeks, we’ve covered 11 prospects, continuing today with our 12th-ranked prospect and Calgary Hitman, Carter Yakemchuk. The 2024 NHL Draft will take place on June 28 and 29 at The Sphere in Las Vegas.
Yakemchuk, turning 19 on September 29, was almost eligible for last season’s draft. Born in Fort McMurray, Yakemchuk has played his minor and major junior hockey careers in Calgary. Yakemchuk is a skating highlight reel on the backend, leading WHL defencemen in scoring this season. There’s lots to discuss with Yakemchuk and in a deep defensive class, he might have some of the highest risk and reward in the Top 15.
Who is Carter Yakemchuk?
| Player | Position | Handedness | Height | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carter Yakemchuk | D | Right | 6′ 3″ | 193lbs |
Yakemchuk’s on-ice production
| Year | Draft Relative | League | Team | GP | G | A | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018–19 | D-5 | AMBHL | Calgary Flames U15 AAA | 33 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 2019–20 | D-4 | AMBHL | Saskatoon Outlaws U15 AA | 32 | 7 | 21 | 28 |
| AMMHL | NWCAA Stampeders U16 AAA | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 2020–21 | D-3 | AEHL U18 | Calgary Flames U18 AAA | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021–22 | D-2 | WHL | Calgary Hitmen | 56 | 4 | 9 | 13 |
| 2022–23 | D-1 | WHL | Calgary Hitmen | 67 | 19 | 28 | 47 |
| WJC-18 | Canada U18 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2023–24 | D+0 | WHL | Calgary Hitmen | 66 | 30 | 41 | 120 |
Yakemchuk has played the entirety of his listed minor hockey career in Calgary, beginning in the Springbank Minor Hockey Association and then the Alberta Elite Hockey League. Yakemchuk was born, raised, and played hockey in Alberta his whole life.
Minor hockey showing
As a 13-year-old, Yakemchuk played for the Calgary Flames U15 AAA team in 2018–19. In 33 games, Yakemchuk tallied four goals and 11 points in his first under-age season.
Returning as a 14-year-old in 2019–20, he had a strong season with the same Flames U15 team. Yakemchuk scored seven times in 32 games, finishing the season with 28 points and a league all-star selection. 2019–20 also saw Yakemchuk play three games underage for the NWCAA U16 Stampeders AAA squad where he tallied an assist.
Following the season Carter was selected 65th overall in the third round of the WHL Bantam Draft by his hometown team, the Calgary Hitmen.
Following his draft, Yakemchuk returned to play in the AEHL for a final shortened season. Joining the U18 squad as an under-ager, he played in five games prior to making his WHL debut.
Early WHL years and IIHF
In 2021–22, Yakemchuk began his first WHL season as a 16-year-old. He played in almost the entirety of his rookie season, appearing in 56 of 66 games, posting four goals and nine assists for 13 points. Not bad for a rookie defenceman.
His second season saw a large jump in offensive production. Playing in 67 games last year, Yakemchuk potted 19 goals and 28 assists for 47 points. With his birthday two weeks shy of entering last season’s NHL Draft, he finished his D-1 season as a 0.70-point-per-game defenceman and earned a WHL Central Second All-Star Team nod.
Additionally, Yakemchuk was named to Team Canada in 2022–23, playing in the U18 WJC. He played in all seven games, winning a bronze medal.
Draft season
Yakemchuk entered the year as a first-round draft projection and has climbed draft boards in the second half of the season. Carter finished the season fifth in WHL defenceman scoring and first among draft-eligible prospects. His pop in point production from his D-1 season was substantial, finishing the year with 71 points.
His 1.08 points per game average is the fourth-highest average by a WHL draft-eligible defenceman in the last 20 years. To make things even sweeter, Yakemchuk scored 30 goals, the fifth most by a WHL draft-eligible defenceman in league history. Not too shabby.
He also led the WHL in shots among defencemen with a whopping 275, which was 42 more than Luca Cagnoni in second place. To wrap things up, Yakemchuk finished the year as the fifth most penalized player in the WHL with 120 PIM.
Yakemchuk’s strengths
Offensive ability
The Calgary Hitmen lacked offensive firepower this season and Carter Yakemchuk did everything in his power to counteract that. Whether it’s shooting through traffic or sending defenders off balance and undressing the goalie, Yakemchuk has a knack for scoring. At times, it looked like a switch would flip in his head and a goal would be the only thing to satisfy the big right-handed shot. He has shooting ability all over the offensive zone, as well as the snappy puck handling to score in tight.
Although he’s 6’3″, Yakemchuk has hands look like he’s 5’10”. Somehow, he has great puck control with his long reach and utilizes his size to help him fend off defenders. He can undress opposing players with toe drags, or spin-o-ramas and even put the puck between their legs if he’s feeling a little extra.
Furthermore, his power play ability is exceptional. He scored 10 of 30 goals on the Hitmen powerplay this season and you take your pick on how each one ended up in the back of the net. He can walk the puck in from the point and shoot through traffic to pick a corner at the top of the circle, get open for an opposite circle one-timer, or work his way down low with his hands and size and undress the goalie. Although not the most exceptional passer, his playmaking ability is there and will only improve as his overall vision of the ice does.
Rivalling Artyom Levshunov and Zeev Buium, Yakemchuk might have the most offensive upside to any defenceman in the 2024 NHL Draft. As long as he can improve his decision-making, Yakemchuk has elite offensive potential at the NHL level which is largely why he can be seen as high as a top five pick on some draft boards entering April.
Physicality
This guy is built physically to play in the NHL. At 6’3” and 198 pounds, he has more than enough size to compete with grown men in the NHL. If that 198 number is correct, that’s even more of a testament to his aggressiveness, some would say a negative. In a way, he’s the perfect middle ground of the WHL grit and grime with the new-age flash and speed. I’d imagine Darry Sutter wouldn’t know what to do with him if he was still coaching, Yakemchuk would be the best and the worst at the same time.
Yakemchuk has a steamroller mentality and although it finds him in the penalty box, is certainly nothing I would be concerned about going forward. He loves big hits and although his Jacob Trouba-esque open-ice hits often result in him heading to the box, he never fails to spark his team. He’s incredibly strong on his skates and embodies the WHL’s reputation of being a big and strong league.
You have to remember he is playing in Calgary for his sub-par hometown team, in front of his family, and he’s by and large their best player. Yakemchuk sets the tone, defends his teammates, and isn’t afraid to get in the mix after a whistle. It’s not malicious, more a Brady Tkachuk-type guy than he is a Matt Cooke-type guy.
All those intangibles that made him so desirable in the WHL will translate to the NHL. I wouldn’t be as concerned with penalty issues going forward when Yakemchuk doesn’t have to drive the energy on his whole team. His penalty concerns weren’t an issue until this season and they won’t be going forward.
Yakemchuk’s areas of improvement
Decision-making/transition game
Yakemchuk seemingly struggles with his vision at times. Although he has a great ability to see passing lanes and opportunities, he can struggle to read his teammates. It somewhat ties into his indecisiveness at times. Behind his net, or moving through the neutral zone, Yakemchuk can both look exceptional, and horrible.
He has strong skating ability but nothing outstanding. His long reach and stride allow him the tools to carry the puck through the neutral zone but at times it seems he just doesn’t see defenders. He’ll force a pass or lose the puck trying to find a lane one breakout, and the next he’ll go end to end and attempt a Michigan.
It’s an inconsistency in his game that puts him in sticky situations at times. He has the ability to develop a really strong transitional game, he just needs to get more comfortable. It may be a testament to a slightly longer developmental path, but his raw skills make that worthwhile. If his vision and decision-making can improve, Yakemchuk has elite NHL defender written all over him.
Defensive responsibility/Unpredictability
Defence is an area Yakemchuk has improved on throughout the season. Early in the year, he looked indecisive, and when he was committing to a defensive responsibility, it was either executed sloppily or just flat-out the wrong decision. Whether it was laying on the ice on a 2-on-1, not forcing plays, or giving forwards way too much time, he looked passive on the defensive side.
Although he has improved in this aspect throughout the season, it will most definitely be a priority in his development moving forward. It’s all a part of the process and Yakemchuk has every offensive tool you could ask for. If his defensive consistency can improve, he’ll be a great top pairing NHL D-man one day.
Speaking of his offensive ability, Yakemchuk’s desire to produce can often put him in vulnerable defensive positions. He plays below the dot a lot and never hesitates to carry the puck in the offensive zone or pinch at the blue line. It works in his favour a lot of the time but he will get caught in some vulnerable positions at the NHL level. Think of the Flames’ new acquisition Daniil Miromanov for a similar aggressive offensive style.
Yakemchuk comparables
Yakemchuk is a uniquely offensive, big defenceman. Although offensive D-men are becoming more mainstream, big physical defencemen are on their way out. One of the closest comparisons I can think of is Brent Burns, simply for the mix of aggressiveness and offence. Yakemchuk lacks the defensive ability to develop into a true Burns mould, but his size and scoring ability is close.
I’ve also seen Owen Power as a comparison to Yakemchuk. Both have the size and scoring ability although Yakemchuk brings an aggressive style of play to the table that Power has never really had. All in all, I can understand the critics’ opinions of him, but he really is a unique talent.
Fit with the Flames
If Yakemchuk’s career history has anything to do with it, the Flames could select him in the first round to keep him in Calgary, maybe for his whole life. I don’t know if any North American professional athlete has grown up, developed, and played pro, all in the same city. It is a possible reality here.
The Flames’ prospect pool of defencemen is pretty dry. After trading away half of their defensive corps this season, it would be nice to bolster the prospect pool of Hunter Brzustewicz with another offensive defenceman with elite potential. Although Yakemchuk is no Cale Makar, he could develop into an elite top-pairing defenceman at the NHL level.
Summary
Yakemchuk is the biggest wild card in the first round for me. Half the time I watch him he looks like a generational defensive prospect and the other half I’m left scratching my head at his decision-making. He has a very strong skillset and his age benefits his developmental path.
His defensive game and decision-making has improved throughout the season and in my opinion, is largely why he’s climbed draft boards. His scoring ability is unmatched among defensive prospects in the class and he will undoubtedly have a long NHL career.
If he can develop consistency in his decision-making alongside improving his vision, Yakemchuk could be in the Norris conversation one day. He is moving in the right direction as of late and if he continues on the trajectory he’s had the last four months, he could debut in the NHL next season.
Risk: 2.5/5
Reward: 5/5
NHL comparison: Brent Burns, Owen Power
Projection: Elite Defenceman
Check out all of The Win Column’s individual player profiles of selected 2024 NHL Draft prospects:
Macklin Celebrini | Ivan Demidov | Artyom Levshunov | Sam Dickinson | Cayden Lindstrom | Berkly Catton | Cole Eiserman | Zeev Buium | Konsta Helenius | Zayne Parekh | Carter Yakemchuk | Anton Silayev | Tij Iginla | Adam Jiricek | Michael Brandsegg-Nygard | Liam Greentree | Igor Chernyshov | Trevor Connelly | Aron Kiviharju | Michael Hage | Ryder Ritchie | Sacha Boisvert | Nikita Artamonov
