The Senators have placed left winger Matthew Highmore on season-opening injured reserve, according to the NHL’s media portal (via Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch). The team also announced that top defense prospect Carter Yakemchuk is headed back to juniors with the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen after nearly cracking Ottawa’s roster on his first try. The moves indicate that center prospect Zack Ostapchuk and left-shot defender Tyler Kleven will open the season on the NHL roster, although Garrioch adds they’re likely in the market to claim another left-shot defender off waivers today to fill their open roster spot.
Highmore sustained an upper-body injury during Saturday’s exhibition game against the Canadiens. The club hasn’t given him an injury designation, but he will be out at least until the weekend. He was a likely candidate for waivers and subsequent assignment to AHL Belleville, but those moves have to wait until he’s cleared to return to play. Instead, he’ll open the season on SOIR since he’s on a two-way contract and was rostered for fewer than 50 games last year. He’ll carry a cap hit of $238,151 for the Sens in the meantime, per PuckPedia.
Highmore, 28, is no longer the full-time NHLer he was around the pandemic but is a serviceable call-up option and a top-six AHL fixture. He has 12 goals and 29 points in 146 career NHL contests, although he’s played in nine games over the past two seasons. Seven of those came with Ottawa last year, posting two assists while averaging 7:43 per game. He signed a one-year, two-way extension ($775K/$400K) in June to avoid free agency and remain with the Sens after posting 31 points in 43 games for Belleville.
Meanwhile, the 19-year-old Yakemchuk is ticketed for a big season with the Hitmen after an impressive preseason performance. The seventh overall pick in this year’s draft erupted for seven points (2 G, 5 A) in four preseason contests with Ottawa. A WHL All-Star last season, he led the league in goals from a defenseman with 30 in 66 games for Calgary. The 6’3″, 203-lb defender already has pro-ready size at 6’3″ and 203 lbs and is no stranger to laying the body, leading the Hitmen with 120 PIMs last year. He’s likely penciled in for the Sens’ opening night roster next season. This year, though, his entry-level contract will slide to 2025-26 and leave the Sens with an extra spot under their 50-contract limit.