Mar 7, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Minnesota Wild defenseman David Jiricek (55) skates during warm up prior to a game against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images. [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/595096f9-e719-4b22-9657-abb66d783cbf.jpeg] Mar 7, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Minnesota Wild defenseman David Jiricek (55) skates during warm up prior to a game against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images. Jonas Brodin is listed as day-to-day. ST. PAUL - Wild defenseman David Jiricek has not played in a game since Feb 28. His last game was in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Iowa Wild. He has only missed five AHL games since being recalled to the NHL. The Wild recalled him on March 1st with injuries to Zach Bogosian and Jonas Brodin. Before the next game, Bogosian was healthy to play which left Jiricek out of the lineup. He has now been a healthy scratch for eight consecutive games and could be on his way for the ninth consecutive game. Despite Jiricek being with the team and healthy, the Wild don't feel they need to place him into the lineup. They are 4-3-1 in the eight games that he has been a scratch. "Yeah, you know what? It's a difficult one with David," Wild head coach John Hynes said. "He's been great. We've tried to use it where he hasn't gone in, but he's put in a lot of extra work. We've done some things I think are beneficial to him individually as a player. He knows the situation. We have to keep him here right now. If there is an injury, then he's going to be the next man up. So I think being around the team, being around the environment, getting the extra work he's put in, is not a bad thing." The Wild feel that even though Jiricek has not played in 19 days, being with the NHL club is beneficial for him. He hasn't been super productive with the Iowa Wild in the AHL either. In 26 AHL games with Iowa, Jiricek has zero goals and six assists. He is a minus-3 in those 26 games as well. Having him up with the Wild has given Jiricek the opportunity to learn from the Wild's coaching staff and skate with one of the best skating coaches in the NHL. If there are any more injuries, Jiricek is the next man up. Not to mention, Jiricek has also been skating with Brodin after practices which is extremely beneficial to learn from one of the best defensive defenseman in the league. That being said, once Brodin comes back and that seems soon, Jiricek will likely be sent down. So the rational that you are healthy scratching a 21-year-old and former 6th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft for eight consecutive games, and soon to be nine, may seem confusing. But it really shouldn't. The Wild view this as something of benefit to him but they also understand he needs to play. He has only missed five AHL games since being recalled so it isn't that big of a deal. "Obviously, the game action is important as well. So if, let's say, [Jonas] Brodin comes back or we don't get any injuries, it is on our mind to let him go down [and] play for his development. So I think overall, it's been a positive." When the Wild traded for Jiricek along with a 5th-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft for Daemon Hunt, a 1st-round pick in 2025, 3rd-round and 4th-round picks in 2026 and a 2nd-round pick in 2027, General Manager Bill Guerin said that the move was more of a future move. The plan wasn't to play him in the NHL right away. That being said, Jiricek played in six games with the Wild in January and had one goal and one assist. “Look, he’s young. He’s a young player. He just turned 21 on Thanksgiving day. He’s a young player. He's got a lot to learn," Guerin said after the trade. He’s going to continue to improve just like all young players. Brock Faber’s got to get better, Matt Boldy’s still going to get better. All these guys are going to continue to improve because they’re so young. So just because they’re in the NHL doesn’t mean they’re not going to develop their game and get better. That’s our job as the coaches, management. That’s our job to help him get better.” He has played ok in the AHL with the Iowa Wild but the Wild felt he deserved the call-up after the trade deadline. "I actually think he can bring a lot. Look, he's got all the tools. He's just young. But when he's, I mean, you guys watch the games too, like he's got a different element to him, moving the puck, getting in the play, he makes some nice outlet passes, and he's not afraid to jump in in the offensive zone," Guerin said on March 2nd. "So it's just a matter of kind of getting him back into it at this level." Unfortunately, it doesn't look like we will see Jiricek at 'this level' for the time being. That being said, the Wild gave up a haul for the young 6-foot-4 defenseman. He has a future in Minnesota and despite low point production in the AHL and nine consecutive healthy scratches in the NHL, Jiricek's future with the Wild is still bright. As Guerin said the day they acquired him, he is an investment. It might not make sense with how they handle him to the general fans but there is a plan for him. "Yeah, now we are getting into that phase where we can do that – we did. Yeah, so it just made sense. He’s not 30, he’s not a rental. He’s a 21-year-old defenseman that we can invest in," Guerin said. "And we did. That’s how I look at it. It’s an investment."
