Although his development may take some time, the Minnesota Wild's acquisition of defenseman David Jiricek gives them a potentially elite blueline for the future.
Although his development may take some time, the Minnesota Wild's acquisition of defenseman David Jiricek gives them a potentially elite blueline for the future.
The rumors around David Jiricek had been circling for a while but the wait is over as he’s headed to the Minnesota Wild. Jiricek’s time with the Columbus Blue Jackets was up and down to put it kindly. The young defender was consistently a point of discussion because his play at the AHL level has been impressive, especially in the playoffs last year, but the opportunities in Columbus – who have consistently been in the NHL’s basement – have been few and far between.
In just over two years, Jiricek went from a highly touted prospect drafted 6th overall to helping Czechia to a silver medal at the World Junior Championship and being named the tournament’s best defenseman to an AHL all-star that same season to being yo-yo’d from the AHL to the NHL and back last season, and now, he’s been traded for below market value.
The fresh start is exactly what the doctor ordered for Jiricek. It’s probably also a relief for the club as he’d clearly fallen out of favor in Columbus. The relationship became strained as the player and team, had different ideas on how his development should be handled and whether there was enough down to earn and extended NHL look.
Now in Minnesota, Jiricek is going to be in a position to get himself back on track with a team that is very clearly interested in what he has to offer. The Wild gave up several decent assets, with a 2025 conditional first-round pick (top-five protected) and a good young depth defender in Daemon Hunt being the highlights of the package.
Going from a bottom feeder to a team with the second-best standing point total in the NHL doesn’t exactly seem like it would make for an easy path for Jiricek to the NHL. There is no clear spot for Jiricek on the NHL club at the moment but there is a path to one, even if in a limited role for this season.
Jiricek should immediately step onto the Iowa Wild roster and assert himself as the team’s best defender, just as he was with Columbus’ AHL affiliate in Cleveland. Jiricek’s offensive prowess and blistering shot from the blueline have made him a true difference-maker at the AHL level. He has natural offensive instincts that come with an intensity that makes him entertaining to watch.
Defensively, he will be looking to assert himself physically and bring that same intensity. Jiricek has never seen a hit he didn’t want to throw and he tries to play as violently as possible without crossing the line. The 6-foot-4 blueliner can be punishing in the corners and around the net, making players think twice about going back into a battle against him for the puck.
The area of Jiricek’s game that has always been a concern, going back to his draft year, is his dynamism as a skater and overall mobility. When the puck is on his stick and Jiricek is dictating what’s going to happen, he can move well and walk the blueline with a great deal of effectiveness. It’s when he’s away from the puck and looking to track an attacker or win a straight-line puck race that the issues begin to arise. He lacks the top gear and agility to defend at an elite level. It’s not that he’s a poor skater, he just lacks the upper-end gear across the tool which limits his overall mobility at times.
Being in a new organization with a fresh start, Jiricek is going to have to take the time to acclimate to the landing spot. That in and of itself should give him a patience that seemed to be wearing thin in Columbus. In a new spot, he will have to understand that he will have an even tougher time earning a spot because being frustrated over not getting a shot in the NHL over Jordan Harris is much different than not getting a shot over Zach Bogosian, the third pair defenders he was and will be competing for a spot on the right side against.
There is so much potential still bubbling under the surface of Jiricek, who turned 21 just days ago. The offensive lean in his game could mean that he and Zeev Buium could be fighting for powerplay time in Minnesota in a few years. The physicality in his game might give him an edge as he looks to lock down top-four minutes in the NHL for the long haul.
Jiricek has the potential to be a very impactful NHL defenseman. With he and Brock Faber on the ride side and Zeev Buium on the left, supported by veterans like captain Jared Spurgeon and Jonas Brodin, the Minnesota Wild could have a very stout blueline with a diverse set of talents in a few years.
With Faber showing that he’s a true NHL top pair defender as a rookie last season and Buium dominating the NCAA which earned him a top-12 selection in the NHL draft this past June, the Wild had two pillars to build around on the back end. Trading for Jiricek gives them three possible impact NHL defenders who all bring something a little different. The Wild are building a potentially special blueline and they hope Jiricek is the piece that puts them over the top.
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