Yakemchuk's game on Sunday night was awesome. But nothing should deter the Senators from sending him back to junior this season.

Several Ottawa players made their debut in the victory, including rookie defenseman Carter Yakemchuk. The former Calgary Hitmen defender was selected seventh overall by the Senato

Carter Yakemchuk played in every situation against Toronto’s best forwards in his pre-season NHL debut, and scored a highlight reel OT winner. Whether or not he can make the final roster, he’s showing why Ottawa took him seventh overall in June.

While everyone in Ottawa is excited about first-round draft pick Carter Yakemchuk, no one has been even thinking about the notion of him being ready to play in the NHL this season, let alone talking about it.

The wait is over. The NHL and the Toronto Maple Leafs are back after a busy offseason and on Sunday night, the Maple Leafs kicked off their preseason schedule with a home game against their Atlantic Division rivals — the Ottawa Senators.

Carter Yakemchuk scored a sensational overtime winner off an end-to-end rush to lead the Ottawa Senators past the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-5 in the preseason opener.

Carter Yakemchuk's goal 2:37 into overtime allowed the Ottawa Senators to claim a 5-4 NHL pre-season victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs that almost got away on Sunday.