Someone else mentioned that this guy reminds them of David Rundblad (minus the physicality).
I see it too. Great outlet pass. Not a great skater. A weird ability, based on reach and soft hands, to slow-motion stick handle around people in the O-zone.
Is this skill-set projectable at the NHL level? It wasn't for Rundblad.
A very interesting player no-doubt. High-risk, high-reward. I think that his physicality guarantees he'll stick in the league, but will his offensive game translate?
Rundblad never had his head screwed on straight, and processed the game at a Squirt A level. It’s what was so frustrating with him, and why he was the bust he was. What makes Yakemchuk’s ceiling so high, is how he anticipates and “thinks the game.” Something nobody ever confused with Rundblad. They’re literally the opposite player due to that very important standard to success at the NHL level.
Really not sure where all the hate comes from from on sites like this either, but he’s looked at by many scouts, as having the most Complete Ceiling for D prospects in this draft. His floor is probably 4th or 5th but he’s not going to be judged on his floor, and his ceiling is probably the most likely to hit, out of all the D prospects.
Why? Because he does “think the game” like an elite player, his game comes very natural to him, and he has that drive to want to be a difference maker.
Fans and media draft people, always seem to forget how vitally important it is to “think the game” like other NHL players, when they’re judging elite players from really bad teams. Many times these players don’t have anyone to really play with, who’s at their level. It then becomes frustrating, and they simply try doing too much. Exactly where most of Yakemchuk’s mistakes originate. Most teams and good talent evaluators will always take this into account, where fans and media types always seem to forget it. Ryder Ritchie suffers from the same thing as a forward in PA this year. Danielson playing in Brandon last year is another one.
His offense likely translates much more than Dickinson’s because of his anticipation, how he reads the ice, and how it naturally comes to him, and Parekh is looking more like he’s gonna be all offense, if he ever becomes an impact player.
A lot of the haters, like to point to things outside of Yakemchuk’s control, playing on such a weak team. He’s certainly not a selfish player as some suggest. He’s simply been given the green light in Calgary, and there’s been little to no structure or like minded players there, like we see in places like London and Saginaw. There’s just too much to like that’s naturally in his game. If he’s playing in London or Saginaw this year, he’s being talked about as a lock in the Top 5.
The kid “thinks the game” at an extremely high (NHL) level. His anticipation is unmatched by any Dman in the draft. He’s also a good skater for his size, protects the puck as well as anyone, his retrieval skills are Top 3, he’s a big puck transporter and will be at the NHL level, which makes him hard to play against, and very importantly, he wants to be that difference maker every single game. That just equals success at the Pro level. If it comes together, he’s the closest thing to a blue line star in this draft.
The one big reason teams may take 2-3 of the others ahead of him, is pure conservatism. Unlike most of the other Top defenders in this draft, Yakemchuk’s game won’t allow him to settle into being a role player. Where a Dickinson can absolutely do that. Teams will have to make that judgment.
There’s a good bet by this time next year, people are asking themselves why there was ever questions about his game. You have to hold each player to the same perspective. Put Dickinson in Calgary, what’s he look like? Same with Parekh. Yet people continue to lose all perspective over short reels getting shared 1000s of times.
Every supposed weakness he has, are easy fixes that mostly come with experience and structure. That’s why scouts and managers will overlook any minor issues he has. Teams also understand the situation in Calgary as well. Where he’s overused at times and he’s been given a green light to basically do whatever he wants because the team is as weak as it is.
Personally I think his agent, and the team who drafts him, need to help facilitate a trade for the upcoming season. Put him in a situation where there’s more structure. Once again, his faults are usually fixed with structure and experience.
The sky really is the limit, and there’s only a couple of dmen in this draft you can say that about. As a team drafting outside the Top 10, you just hope this negative talk continues, because it’s not everyday you’re gonna get a player like Yakemchuk in that range.
