The Ottawa Senators' top prospect won't crack the opening-night roster after all.
Defenceman Carter Yakemchuk was sent down to AHL Belleville on Monday, the team announced.
Forward Drake Batherson and defenceman Tyler Kleven were also placed on injured reserve as Ottawa's opening-night roster takes shape.
Yakemchuk, 20, was the seventh-overall pick in the 2024 draft but has yet to make his NHL debut. He was held without a point in the pre-season.
The Fort McMurray, Alta., native spent last season with the WHL's Calgary Hitmen, recording 17 goals and 32 assists in 56 games.
Batherson, 28, was ruled out for at least two weeks on Sept. 24 after pulling a muscle in his upper body.
He posted a career-high 68 points (26 goals, 42 assists) in 82 games last season before adding one goal and one assist in six post-season contests.
Kleven left the team's pre-season opener against the Toronto Maple Leafs early. The team has yet to disclose his injury, but he has not played in a game since.
The Senators begin their regular-season schedule on Thursday with a visit to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Here is the Senators' opening-night roster:
Goaltenders (two): Leevi Merilainen, Linus Ullmark
Defencemen (seven): Thomas Chabot, Nick Jensen, Nikolas Matinpalo, Jake Sanderson, Donovan Sebrango, Jordan Spence, Artem Zub
Forwards (13): Michael Amadio, Nick Cousins, Dylan Cozens, Lars Eller, claude Giroux, Ridly Greig, Olle Lycksell, Kurtis MacDermid, David Perron, Shane Pinto, Tim Stutzle, Brady Tkachuk, Fabian Zetterlund
