Senators bulk up on blue line by selecting Carter Yakemchuk with No. 7 pick

The Ottawa Senators added another talented defenceman to their blue line with the selection of Carter Yakemchuk with the seventh-overall pick in Friday’s NHL Draft.

The six-foot-three defenceman had 30 goals and 71 points in 66 WHL games with the Calgary Hitmen of the WHL last season.

Yakemchuk was the No. 13 ranked prospect on Jason Bukala’s final prospects rankings ahead of the draft.

“Yakemchuk brings a combination of skill, speed, and physical push back. He can play the game a variety of ways,” Bukala wrote. “He’s proven he can score off the rush or rip pucks from distance on the power play. He keeps opponents honest around his crease with his physical presence.”

The Fort McMurray, Alta., native also represented Canada at the 2023 world juniors, his first time representing his home country on the international stage. He was held without a point in seven games.

Yakemchuk was the second defenceman off the board Friday. Only Artyom Levshunov, who was selected No. 2 overall by the Chicago Blackhawks, went before him.

He joins a solid Senators blue line that already includes Jakob Chychrun, Thomas Chabot and Jake Sanderson.

Ottawa finished last season seventh in the Atlantic Division with a record of 37-41-4.

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