Quoting: AStovetop
I haven't seen a single scout describe Yakemchuk as pure offense. The most consistent comparison I see for him is Petro, physical and punishing (sneaky dirty) with great offensive upside.
What sharks need more than anything on the Blueline is someone who is, maybe not PURE offense, but on another level offensively. Cagnoni is the only true puckmoving d-man in their system. they have a lot of fantastic shutdown/2-way d-men that probably cap at 35 points. I don't think Saliyev or Dickenson are those guys. Buium, I'd absolutely go after, but Parekh is the best pure offensive d-man (and a righty) so I'd 100% trade up to the 10ish range to get him (not 2 early 2nds though)
I don't know what scouts you are following on Yakemchuk, but the defense is almost universally a concern. And the high PIM is not a good thing...when they are coming due to poor defending...not because he is some 'punisher' on the blueline.
"A true wild cowboy of a defenseman, Yakemchuk is such an interesting offensive blueliner. He isn’t the smoothest skater, which sometimes limits his game defensively, but the puckhandling and skill he flashes offensively have allowed him to work around his skating, helping him score 30 goals as a draft-eligible blueliner. Yakemchuck has a wicked shot and certainly likes to use it. He can bomb pucks on net or dangle a defender and finish from in tight.
Defensemen must be able to defend on some level, and Yakemchuk has been a bit inconsistent in that regard. However, I do think that with some improved footwork and mobility, he could be much less reliant on leaning and reaching with his stick or chasing the hit." (
Ferrari)
"I really have had a tough time with Yakemchuk this year. He’s one of the players I’ve logged the most data on, and the results so far are extremely mixed. The high points of his game are admittedly high, but the issue comes from a similar critique of Zayne Parekh where I’m not sure how I feel about defensemen whose best assets are displayed when the puck is already in the offensive zone. Yakemchuk has the skill level and willingness to bait defenders and make them look awfully silly to step up off the half wall and put himself in scoring position and rifle shots past goaltenders. The issue is getting the puck there in the first place.
Yakemchuk is a player who sits back quite often defensively, and struggles to consistently get breakouts started with clean possession. Maybe I’m just seeing all the wrong games so far, but I’ve seen him as high as the top 5 and I just can’t see how I would put him there. As one of the oldest players in the draft, his timeline is significantly shorter than many others in this class who are up to a full year older. If his non-forwards skating can improve to better close gaps and play physically more effectively, there could be a solid defender here, but he seems like a player part of the much larger group that could fill in the middle of an NHL lineup if things go well." (
Scouch)
"Carter Yakemchuk is both always on the puck, and very hard to knock off the puck. He’s burly, with a strong and gritty frame that lets him push through hits and drive play with plenty of pace. And while
his defensive awareness certainly needs some boosting, he quick to engage physically and usually wins his battles. His ability to fight for the puck and quickly turned up ice has commanded an offense in the WHL. I’m not sure it’ll stay as sharp in the pros, but Yakemchuk’s gritty edge and strong play-driving could be very translatable." (
Foley)
"He is a big defender that loves to push pace with the puck on his stick, he is able to take over in the offensive zone at times and loves to activate from the blueline. While a dangerous offensive defender,
he will need to focus on his play in his own zone to really reach his potential." (
McKeens)
"He is a legitimate goal-scoring threat from the blue line with a lethal shot, while also showcasing higher-end hand skills that allow him to open up shooting lanes and make plays from the offensive blue line. He moves pucks fine, can play a physical game and has size to go with all of that.
Yakemchuk is closer to average defensively and can lack attention to detail, while also sometimes getting himself out of position and getting into trouble. His skating does not stand out as a notable trait in his game, but he has adequate enough feet to get where he needs to go and also can defend with the length that comes with his 6-foot-3 frame."
Peters
"One of the highest-scoring and most penalized draft-eligible WHL defensemen in recent WHL history, Yakemchuk broke the 25-goal plateau and sailed past 100 penalty minutes with the Hitmen this year. That’s a year after he scored 19 goals (third among WHL D) on a middle-of-the-pack team and was the only 2024 draft-eligible to make one of the WHL’s All-Star teams when he was named a Central Division Second All-Star last season, which was important considering he was only a couple of weeks away from being eligible for the 2023 draft. I thought he was mostly unnoticeable at U18 worlds for Canada, but part of that was his role/usage and he has looked completely himself in an even greater role on another lackluster team this season. Led by his instincts, plenty of confidence and legit skill for a D his size, he has generated a lot from the back end for a Hitmen team that has generated little. While his game in the WHL does come with some give and take, he’s got pro size, a pro shot (maybe an understatement given his gaudy goal totals) and an attack mentality that is complemented by good instincts on when to eagerly jump off the line or into the rush and when to hold it or outlet it. 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, holding pucks past and away from reaching defenders and occasionally dazzling one-on-one. It’s not uncommon to see him take a puck to the inside off the wall.
And while I’d say he’s a good-but-not-great defender, he's got the size and tools (it never hurts when you're a 6-foot-3 righty) to take the steps he needs to there and he plays really hard at both ends. I would like to see his skating, which is fine but not a strength, improve, particularly from a standstill. There have been games this season in which he has dictated terms with his offense and physicality, really taking charge on the ice. If he can get a little quicker and continue to mature in his decision-making, he’s got real upside." (
Wheeler)
"The same could be said for Yakemchuk, who has had a monster year in Western Canada to the tune of 51 points (23 goals, 28 assists) in 45 games with Calgary. Yakemchuk, an offense-first fixture on the blue line, is a top-30 goal-scorer in the league — also leading all defensemen — and his overall production pace has been matched by just a select few. “What stands out most for me in Yakemchuk’s game is his problem solving and ability to break down defensive structures from the back end,” FCHockey head Western scout Donesh Mazloum said. “You will never find him going through the motions as he is constantly probing interior, moving his feet to create passing lanes, and testing the weak points in coverage. From an offensive standpoint I think he is already one of the most accomplished and highest potential defenders in this draft class. The flaws, however, lie mostly at the other end of the ice for the 6-foot-2, 194-pounder. “There are certainly defenders further along in their development available in this draft but I think there is a chance that we look at Yakemchuk as the best defender from this class 10 years down the line,” Mazloum said. “When discussing the top blueliners available in 2024, Yakemchuk belongs in the discussion. '
While his defensive game needs more polish there is certainly a top pairing ceiling in his game.'" (
Vickers)
StutzlesNumber1Fan a aimé ceci.
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