{"id":451698,"date":"2024-09-22T22:27:48","date_gmt":"2024-09-23T02:27:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=451698"},"modified":"2024-09-22T22:30:15","modified_gmt":"2024-09-23T02:30:15","slug":"ottawa-senators-have-excellent-internal-competition-defence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2024\/09\/22\/ottawa-senators-have-excellent-internal-competition-defence\/","title":{"rendered":"Ottawa Senators Have Excellent Internal Competition on Defence"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">It&#8217;s just one game into the preseason schedule, but the <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2024\/09\/20\/puck-drop-preview-2024-25-ottawa-senators\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Ottawa Senators<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> defence has <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2024\/07\/05\/ottawa-senators-2024-25-third-defence-pair\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">excellent internal competition<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. And what better way to end it, than<\/span> <span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">the 2024 Senators first-round pick, seventh overall <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2024\/06\/04\/carter-yakemchuk-scouting-report-2024-nhl-draft-16\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Carter Yakemchuk<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">? Yakemchuk went end-to-end with a tired <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/m\/matthau01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-09-22_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Auston Matthews<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> on the ice, and tip-toed <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/m\/mccabja01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-09-22_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Jake McCabe<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> at the blueline, to walk in and beat <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/search\/search.fcgi?pid=murrama02,murrama03&amp;search=Matt+Murray&amp;utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-09-22_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Matt Murray<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> on the backhand along the ice. The 18-year-old is <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">definitely<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> one of the main figures to discuss, but there are others <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">as well<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Welcome to the NHL, Carter Yakemchuk! \ud83d\udc40 <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SensProspects?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@SensProspects<\/a> <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/MVROO8ArX7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/MVROO8ArX7<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Locked On Senators (@SensCentral) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SensCentral\/status\/1838032189734387941?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">September 23, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Hot Topic and the Ottawa Senators 2024-25 Preseason Defence\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">A lot of your offensive attack, especially when you are playing a stacked offensive lineup like the <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2024\/09\/19\/takeaways-from-toronto-maple-leafs-start-training-camp\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Toronto Maple Leafs<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> threw out there tonight, is going to need to start with your defence. It helped the Sens jump out to a 15-1 shot advantage after the first period. It seemed the Senators defence that played tonight was poised and all were making a case to make the team. Just 18 seconds after the Leafs made it 4-3, <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2020\/05\/24\/donovan-sebrango-scouting-report\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Donovan Sebrango<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> scored a beautiful wrister to tie it at four. Another player, this time a forward fighting for a roster spot, <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/j\/jenikja01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-09-22_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Jan Jenik<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> collected his fourth point of the game on that goal as well. Sebrango&#8217;s confidence seemed to grow as the game wore on, as he was out there with less than three minutes to <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">go defending<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> the lead.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Star of the Show Tonight and Carter Yakemchuk<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">As the clock continued to tick down tonight, <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">then<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> Yakemchuk found himself out there with <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/c\/chaboth01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-09-22_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Thomas Chabot<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, against the <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Leafs<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> best 6-on-5 alignment. <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2024\/07\/30\/ottawa-senators-playoffs-depend-highly-thomas-chabot\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Chabot was out there a lot with Yakemchuk tonight<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, proving to be a great mentor for the soon-to-be 19-year-old. Yakemchuk showed excellent poise out there, was<\/span> <span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">confident enough to be making short passes, and was solid along the boards. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">All<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> very great traits to carry with you <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">for<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> a young defenceman.<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> It&#8217;s only one game, but he seems to have immediately sparked a debate. A debate <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">of<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> whether he can stick in Ottawa as a 19-year-old.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Alternatively, will he be sent back to his junior team, the WHL&#8217;s Calgary Hitmen, for another year of development? He is, at the very least, making a case for his nine-game, regular season tryout. That is the tryout before his first year of his entry-level contract kicks in, before being sent back to junior. This is <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">definitely<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> a big developing story to watch through the exhibition schedule.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Front-Runner to Stick is Tyler Kleven<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The next defenceman to dive into is <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/k\/klevety01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-09-22_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Tyler Kleven<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. It seems that Kleven has the inside track at a third-pair position. Kleven has a bomb of a slapshot. Unfortunately, as he did late in an early first-period power play, he misses too often, twice in that instance <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">in fact<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. Overall, he seemed a bit slow on pucks, and Leaf stars like <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/m\/marnemi01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-09-22_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Mitch Marner<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> or <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/n\/nylanwi01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-09-22_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">William Nylander<\/span><\/a> <span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">were able to<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> make plays on him during battles for the puck, by simply moving their feet.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">However, Kleven <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">did show <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">a<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> calmness<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> in his <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">own<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> zone and never seemed to panic, even if he was getting out hustled to pucks. Then, when the play shifted to the front of the net, he did an excellent job of staying disciplined but physical. Those are the type of aspects to his game that shows he is NHL-ready. His tentative play could be as easy to fix as having a smooth skating defence partner on the third pairing for Ottawa. <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/a\/addisca01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-09-22_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Calen Addison<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, someone currently on a professional tryout is a possibility in that role. Right now it is earmarked for <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/b\/bernaja01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-09-22_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Jacob Bernard-Docker<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, with <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/h\/hamontr01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-09-22_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Travis Hamonic<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> there for veteran support. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Needless to say,<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> there is plenty of competition within the organization.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0Main Photo Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It&#8217;s just one game into the preseason schedule, but the Ottawa Senators defence has excellent internal competition. And what better way to end it, than the 2024 Senators first-round pick, seventh overall Carter Yakemchuk? Yakemchuk went end-to-end with a tired Auston Matthews on the ice, and tip-toed Jake McCabe at the blueline, to walk in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4222,"featured_media":136654,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[8,4547,4548],"tags":[7869,4384,4945],"class_list":["post-451698","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-senators","category-hockey","category-nhl","tag-carter-yakemchuk","tag-nhl-preseason","tag-tyler-kleven"],"modified_by":"Levi Pike, Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/451698","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4222"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=451698"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/451698\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/136654"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=451698"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=451698"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=451698"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}