David Jiricek's first practice with the Wild. ST. PAUL - Despite a recent story by HockeyWilderness saying David Jiricek would make his Wild debut on Tuesday against the Vancouver Canucks, Wild head coach John Hynes said on Monday that Jiricek will need to practice more before he plays. "Yeah. I mean right now, the way the six d are going, I wouldn't anticipate him," Hynes said on Jiricek needing practice before playing. "He won't be in tomorrow unless something happens." The Wild's six defenders, without Jonas Brodin playing, have been great. Declan Chisholm has stepped up in a big way and Jon Merrill has been getting some important penalty kill minutes. Minnesota traded for Jiricek on Saturday. He has played ten games this year, four in the American Hockey League, and has last played in the NHL on Nov, 18. "Yeah, he was great to talk to, like he knows, too. He’s like, ‘I gotta skate, I gotta practice. I gotta see what’s going on.’ It’s been a big transition for him," Hynes said on not rushing Jiricek into the lineup. "I mean, it may come to a point where maybe you get injured tonight. I don’t know, and he’s got to go in, but I would say right now, the best case scenario for him is to come in and get acclimated, get back to skating, get back to practicing, seeing how we’re doing things. And then when his opportunity comes, it comes." As Hynes said, even Jiricek thinks he needs some time before he makes his Wild debut. “Oh yeah, 100 percent," Jiricek said. "You know, four of them was in minors, right? So, yeah, just gotta take some time. Yeah, that's for sure.” Let us know what you think by commenting below or on the Forum [https://thehockeynews.rtb.io/minnesota-wild/posts]. Make sure you bookmark The Hockey News' Minnesota Wild page [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/minnesota-wild/] for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more. Follow Dylan Loucks on Blue Sky [https://bsky.app/profile/dylanloucks.bsky.social] and Twitter (X). [https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://twitter.com/DylanLoucks4%3Fref_src%3Dtwsrc%255Egoogle%257Ctwcamp%255Eserp%257Ctwgr%255Eauthor&ved=2ahUKEwiCtt3W2dmJAxVSrokEHVwsBhMQ6F56BAgaEAE&usg=AOvVaw3Nas3mZYaXJ-oCGPNTnt5b]
