Adam Jiricek always felt St. Louis would be his destination

Sixteenth pick in 2024 NHL Draft had conversations with Blues, sent tapes of his play to organization in days leading up to draft

MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- Adam Jiricek didn't have may doubts.

The St. Louis Blues didn't have any doubts, and they wasted little time in getting the 16th pick in the 2024 NHL Draft under contract.

When the Blues selected the defenseman with the 16th pick, the Klatovy, Czech Republic native was quite prepared.

Sure, things can change, but Jiricek always felt like when he was delving out highlight clips of himself, when he handed one to the Blues, he was doing so to his future employer.

"I had a couple tapes for the draft and one of them was for St. Louis," Jiricek said. "St. Louis was my first tape. I go over this with my agent and I expected this. But you never know. There can be surprises. I was nervous, but it was a little bit to be expected.

"Yeah of course I'm happy. Super-excited to be drafted. I'm happy to be here in this organization."

Jiricek (6-foot-3, 178 pounds), who was the first 2024 first-round pick to sign when he put pen to paper on Tuesday to a three-year, entry-level contract https://puckpedia.com/player/adam-jiricek, was present at development camp earlier this week to get the ins and outs of the organization but counting the days to when he can get on the ice.

Jiricek was playing for Czechia in December at the World Junior Championship when he sustained a serious right knee injury against Slovakia when fellow Blues prospect Juraj Pekarcik (2023, third round) fell awkwardly on Jiricek ending his tournament and in essence, making him a wild card and in a sense, a risk of a draft selection.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FhQybPG8Zc[/embed]

"(Blues director of amateur scouting) Tony [Feltrin] saw him a lot more than I did," Blues assistant GM Tim Taylor said of Jiricek. "I saw when he got injured there in the World Junior, but we are trying to get bigger on the back end with more skill throughout our whole organization. He brings all those elements. He had the knee injury so he's three weeks or a month away from getting on the ice. Another young player we're excited to have in our organization, great attitude. He's eager to go, a guy that brings more skill in the back end for us."

Jiricek said he's on the cusp.

"I'm getting closer," he said. "I had a long rehab behind me, a couple few, long months. It's going well. I expect this summer I go on the ice and hopefully to be healthy."

Make no mistake, the Blues did their research on the 18-year-old drafted on his birthday, and felt the selection was justified.

"He's a pretty savvy player that can play a well-rounded game," Feltrin said. "I like his poise. I like his ability to be active. He wants to impact the game and make a difference. There's lots to like. We know that there's physical maturity to come, but that's not a concern."

Jiricek understands the nuances of the the NHL and saw first hand what it takes to get there. Older brother David Jiricek was the sixth pick in the 2022 NHL Draft.

"Of course. I know what I can expect, but I have my own way," Adam Jiricek said. "He helped me but not too much."

Adam Jiricek was limited to 23 games total last season, one in the World Junior Championship, 19 for HC Plzen and three for the Plzen U20 squad; he had one assist playing for HC Plzen in the Czech Extraliga.

"It was a tough season for us and for me too," Jiricek said. "It was pretty hard. It was a bit worse than I expected. I know the U20 I played one game but it was tough."

Jiricek is expected to go play in the CHL this season, which is why Blues general manager Doug Armstrong wanted to get him signed.

"The likelihood of potentially going to major junior. He's working with that. I think that will be good for him," Armstrong said. "Not many first-round picks don't get signed. Pay me now, pay me late, put a little of those American dollars in his pocket I guess.

"He's going to decide with us and his representatives on the best place. Now that he's signed, it makes it easy for him."

In the meantime, Jiricek was enjoying getting to know St. Louis, and relishing in the fact he had so many prospect teammates that can relate to him.

"Yeah it's good to see the rink, to see the city and see the full program," Jiricek said. "I got to meet my new teammates.

"We have four Slovaks, four Czechs and one USA player who speaks Czech and some other players who can speak Czech. It's crazy to be on a team with seven other guys who can speak my own language."