2024 NHL Draft profile: Carter Yakemchuk

Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The first round of the 2024 NHL Draft gets underway on Friday in Las Vegas at The Sphere, where the San Jose Sharks pick first overall and are expected to take dynamic center Macklin Celebrini out of Boston University.

Meanwhile, the Buffalo Sabres currently hold the 11th overall pick for Friday's first round. This year's group of prospects is considered to be one that will help transcend a team in need of some young talent in the years to come.

While the Sabres may still elect to move the pick ahead of Friday's draft, it's time to profile another prospect that might be available to the Sabres with the 11th selection, and how they may make an impact at the NHL level.

The next player in our prospect profile series will be scoring Canadian-born defenseman Carter Yakemchuk from the Calgary Hitmen of the Western Hockey League (WHL):

Profile:

Yakemchuk took the WHL by storm this year in his third full season with the Calgary Hitmen, showcasing his offensive ability and the use of his physicality.

As one of the oldest prospects available in the first round of this year's draft, Yakemchuk will be 19-years-old by the time the next hockey season starts. In addition, he would be eligible to make the full-time jump to the professionals after one more season in the WHL due to his age and years played in juniors.

The Fort McMurray, Alberta native was drafted by the Hitmen in the 2020 WHL Draft as a third-round pick. He's been projected to go off the board in Round 1 anywhere between the eighth overall pick and as far down as 24th overall. NHL Central Scouting has him ranked 11th overall amongst North American skaters.

Yakemchuk is a big, 6-foot-3 and 194-pound right-shot defenseman, who uses his size and frame to his advantage in any spot on the ice. His game resembles that of some of the best offensive defensemen in the NHL by being a great puck mover and goal scorer.

Perhaps what makes him such a hot commodity heading into the draft is he led all WHL defensemen with 30 goals, becoming the first defenseman in the league since Ian White (32 in 2002) to score 30-or-more goals in a season.

Yakemchuk's 71 points this past year was also second-best on his team, and fifth overall amongst all defensemen in the WHL.

Positives:

Yakemchuk has been one of the rising stars in the WHL with size, combined with great hands that allow him to manipulate defenders in two different ways. He can either blow by someone with a nifty move, or muscle his way into scoring opportunities.

Despite being a defenseman, he has found a nose for the net at times when drifting low to gather a rebound, or receive a back-door scoring chance. He has shown that he possesses raw talent with a high ceiling, if developed correctly.

Yakemchuk has shown in his time in the WHL he can certainly impact his team offensively. He can also utilize that size in his own end to make big impacts on the defensive side of the puck.

Negatives:

Yakemchuk does have the ability to play within his own end, but he has much room for improvement. There were many times where he overcommitted to an attacking player and gets beaten badly, and gives the attacking team a great chance at a goal.

He also struggles a bit with skating and staying with attackers as they are streaking into the zone. When he's defending off the puck, he has shown times where he wanders and loses his man.

While it's a positive that he has raw talent, it can also be seen as a negative due to the potential of falling short of expectations.

His talent on the offensive side of the puck will likely transition well to the NHL level, but if he can't improve the other aspects of his game, he may not develop into a top-pairing NHL defenseman.

NHL comparison:

Yakemchuk's size and offensive ability is comparable to many top NHL defensemen, past and present.

Brent Burns possesses the same kind of skill set, in terms of offensive output, while utilizing his size in a top-pair role in the NHL. Burns has been regarded as one of the top offensive defensemen in recent years, putting up multiple seasons with more than 60 points.

While it took Burns a bit longer to emerge onto the scene in the NHL, his prime years with the San Jose Sharks earned him multiple appearances as an NHL All-Star. He also won the Norris Trophy as the NHL's best defenseman in the 2016-17 season.

Where may he fit the Sabres?

The Sabres have had some of the most impressive defensive prospects over the last few seasons with the likes of Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power patrolling the blue line. The only problem is they have all been left-shot defensemen.

Buffalo did acquire former 2019 first-round pick Bowen Byram from the Colorado Avalanche this past season in the Casey Mittelstadt trade, and have the likes of Ryan Johnson and Vsevolod Komarov in the prospect pool. However, the right side of the blue line could still use attention.

Yakemchuk would bring the Sabres some much-needed help on the right side, while also bringing the same offensive drive as a player like Dahlin.

While Yakemchuk would likely benefit from an additional year or two in the AHL to adjust to the professional game, he could greatly impact the team as a potential top-four defenseman at the top level.