Yakemchuk brings sought-after skill set to Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game

There’s a supply and demand issue in the NHL- and the league wants what Carter Yakemchuk has.

Of the 288 defencemen to play an NHL game in 2023-24 so far, only 122 shoot right. That’s a hair over 42 percent.

So when you see a draft-eligible 6-foot-3 right-shot defenceman who’s on pace for more than 30 goals?

That’s one hot commodity.

“In the second half of his (Yakemchuk’s) 17-year-old year last year, he really emerged offensively,” Calgary Hitmen Head Coach Steve Hamilton said. “I think his confidence is at a real high point, He is not afraid to take chances, he reads the play and jumps in front of pucks. He picks them off, makes plays and he’s got a lethal shot.

You look at top-pairing guys in the NHL, they play both sides of the coin. They defend hard and they bring offense and, you know, Carter has just got a lot of those traits.”

Yakemchuk leads all WHL defencemen with 18 goals in 40 contests.

Tack on his 24 assists and he sits fifth in the blueliner points race.

“I’d describe my game as a two-way defenceman,” Yakemchuk said. “I mean, I’m proud of my offensive abilities and I think I’ve had a good start to the season so far.”

It’s been a strong enough season that NHL Central Scouting has Yakemchuk ranked sixth among all North American skaters, projecting the Calgary, Alta. product as a potential first-round pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.

Before he can hear his name called at the draft in Las Vegas, Yakemchuk will compete against some of the top talent in the draft class at the Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in Moncton, N.B. on January 24.

“There’s going to be a lot of great talent on the ice and I think it’s just gonna be a lot of fun to be able to go out,” Yakemchuk added. “Everyone who is there is there for a reason, they’re all great players.

My parents are going, so they’re super pumped about that, but I’m just trying to treat it like any other game.”

Yakemchuk was named to the WHL Central Division Second All-Star Team in 2023 and has also represented Canada at the 2023 IIHF U18 World Championship, where he skated in seven games and earned a bronze medal.