CARTER YAKEMCHUK

Defense
6’2/194
Right
Calgary Hitmen/WHL

Related: Adam Jiricek

Carter Yakemchuk had a tremendous season with the Calgary Hitmen in the WHL, putting up 19 goals and 47 points in 67 games. While he was mostly unnoticeable at U18 Worlds for Canada, that was mostly due to his usage and role on the team. 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 sound decision-making. He also protects the puck really well for a defenseman, which allows him to make the most of his decisions to involve himself in the play around the offensive zone. At 6 foot 2, Carter Yakemchuk has NHL mobility, and his skill is excellent; Yakemchuk shows high-end hands to beat CHL players regularly while doing so at pace. Carter Yakemchuk has the potential to be a top 4 puck-moving defenseman and should be a late first-round pick.

Size/Strength Good
Skating Great
Shot/Scoring Great
Puckhandling Great
Physical Play Average
Offensive Play Great
Defensive Play Average
Hockey Sense Great
Competitiveness Good

Strengths

1. He is a big tall aggressive force with a high skill level, and loves the puck on his stick in the offensive end; plays with pace, and has puck-handling skills to beat forecheckers easily.
2. Uses his feet aggressively on the attack and is a play-driving force on the offensive end, pinching down hard on the wall to apply pressure and maintain puck possession.
3. He is slippery and skilled with the puck on his stick, he dances laterally on the blue line to gain separation and give himself space and time to find the shooting lanes.

Areas of Improvement

1. Defensive Game is still a work in Progress
2. Work Level and lateral movements on the defensive end

Scouting Report

Carter Yakemchuk is one of the most interesting right-handed defensemen in the draft class, after potting 19 goals and 47 points in 67 games last season and is off to a great start to the season having put up 13 goals and 33 points in 29 games. He is a big tall aggressive force with a high skill level, and loves the puck on his stick in the offensive end. Yakemchuk plays with pace and has puck-handling skills to beat forecheckers easily. The Calgary Hitmen defenseman uses his feet aggressively on the attack and is a play-driving force on the offensive end, pinching down hard on the wall to apply pressure and maintain puck possession. He is slippery and skilled with the puck on his stick, he dances laterally on the blue line to gain separation and give himself space and time to find the shooting lanes. While his defensive game is a work in progress, he puts in a visible effort around the confines of his end. His work level and lateral movement are such that he projects as eventually being an asset on his own end also. Carter Yakemchuk is a prototypical offensive defenseman now, who has good size and offensive ability but can be a defensive liability at times.
The NHL Comparison for Carter Yakemchuk is Damon Severson, who had real high offensive upside coming out of the WHL but he also had some real weaknesses to improve upon on the defensive side of the puck. Carter Yakemchuk
has the potential to be a top 4 offensive defenseman and should be a first-round pick.

Skill: Right Handed defenseman with high-end skill and is a play-driving force with the puck on his stick

NHL Comparable: Damon Severson

NHL Potential: Top 4 Offensive Defenseman

Season	Team	League	GP	G	PTS
2022-23	Canada U18	WJC-18	7	0	0
	Calgary Hitmen	WHL	67	19	47
2023-24	Calgary Hitmen	WHL	29	13	33

Bet Now