Senators call up Yakemchuk, Donovan ahead of NHL debuts
As they look to stay afloat in a brutal race to make the playoffs in the Eastern Conference, the Ottawa Senators are bringing in reinforcements from the AHL as they stare down the second half of a back-to-back scenario.
The Senators announced on Tuesday that they have recalled prospects Carter Yakemchuk and Jorian Donovan ahead of tonight’s pivotal showdown against the Detroit Red Wings.
ROSTER UPDATE: Jorian Donovan and Carter Yakemchuk have been recalled from the @BellevilleSens. MISE À JOUR: Jorian Donovan et Carter Yakemchuk ont été rappelés des @BellevilleSens. ottsens.com/4lPGm8y
Yakemchuk, a 20-year-old defenseman selected by Ottawa with the No. 7 overall pick in the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft, has impressed this season with the Belleville Senators in his first taste of professional action.
The Alberta native has 10 goals and 26 assists for 36 points in 50 games with Belleville, and he will aim to bring some mobility and offensive upside to the blue line for the Senators.
Donovan, a 21-year-old defenseman hailing from Calgary, is in his second full season with Belleville, where he has 21 points in 58 games this season. The 2022 fifth-round draft selection was a member of Team Canada at the 2023-24 World Junior Championships.
Both players have not yet made their NHL debuts, though they could be set to do so on Tuesday night.
It’s a crucial game for the Senators, who picked up a key victory on Monday night with a 2-1 win over the New York Rangers powered by an impressive defensive showing that saw the Blueshirts limited to nine shots on goal.
That win came at a cost, though as defenseman Thomas Chabot and Lassi Thomson each suffered injuries that forced them to leave the game early, which has necessitated Tuesday’s call-ups of Yakemchuk and Donovan.
Now, Ottawa is facing an uphill battle against a struggling Detroit team that desperately needs the two points that are on the table. Neither team currently holds a playoff spot in the East, as the Wings are one point and Ottawa two points back of the New York Islanders, but since both teams have a game in hand on New York, the winner of Tuesday night’s game will be well-positioned to challenge the Isles for the final spot.