Carter Yakemchuk Named AHL Player of the Week Amid Senators’ Defensive Injuries

With the Ottawa Senators grappling with injuries to two key defensemen, Carter Yakemchuk is making a compelling case in the AHL for an NHL call-up. The American Hockey League announced on Monday that Yakemchuk has been named the AHL Player of the Week for the period ending March 15, 2026. In his last three games with the Belleville Senators, he has recorded one goal, eight points, and a remarkable plus-8 rating.

Yakemchuk showcased his playmaking ability by assisting on six goals over two games last week, contributing significantly to Belleville’s successful weekend sweep in Hershey. His exceptional performance has earned him a place among the elite, as he becomes only the seventh player in Belleville Sens history to receive this honor, joining the ranks of notable players like Drake Batherson and Josh Norris.

The seventh overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, Yakemchuk is still awaiting his NHL debut with Ottawa, despite the absence of regulars Jake Sanderson and Nick Jensen. Their spots have been filled by Yakemchuk’s teammate Dennis Gilbert and Nik Matinpalo, Ottawa’s seventh defenseman. Surprisingly, the Senators opted to call up Lassi Thomson instead of Yakemchuk to fill the seventh defenseman role.

At the beginning of the season, many Senators fans might have assumed that if the team required nine defensemen at any point, Yakemchuk would be among them. However, the organization is focused on his continued development, preferring he gain more experience and play significant minutes in the AHL before making the leap to the NHL.

So far, Yakemchuk has been thriving. On Saturday, he notched four assists in a 6-3 victory and followed that up with two more assists in a 5-2 win on Sunday, earning First Star honors in both matches. Over the course of the season, he has accumulated 35 points in 47 games, ranking second among all rookie defensemen in the AHL.

When drafted, Yakemchuk was coming off a stellar 30-goal season with the Calgary Hitmen in 2023-24. Although his offensive stats dipped last season as he worked on his skating and defensive skills in the WHL, recent performances indicate he is regaining his offensive prowess. He even had a brief taste of NHL life during the Olympic break when he practiced with the Senators, fueling his desire for more opportunities at the highest level.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.