Prospect Info: David Jiříček, RHD (via CBJ - 6thOA, 2020)

[Hall of Faber]

Sounds like another Shawn Belle to me. Don’t like

 

[f7ben]

The more I think about this move the more I don’t like it. Our blatant gaping holes are top 6 scoring. Using all that draft capital on this kid who’s a major question mark is troublesome and reeks of Billy valuing the Stramel Trenin fantasy’s he has.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Pick needs to stay in the 20's.

 

[saywut]

Okay with the trade, Jiricek's age/timeline aligns better with this team's likely peaks than future picks, and fills a long-term need, and his upside outweighs the downside of this trade as long as the 1st remains near the end of the round. Didn't think CBJ would want Ohgren, glad we kept Heidt as his ELC 3-4 years from now could be valuable to this team, would consider him more valuable than all the picks swapped in this trade excluding the 1st. Not surprised Waddell valued a quantity of picks as that was the Carolina group strategy during his tenure there.

Somewhat curious the short-term(this year/early next) plan with Jiricek, as Bogosian and Chisholm(barring injury should remain a RFA next year and cheap) have been doing fine, RHD are less likely to have experience playing their off-side, Spurgeon would be the logical player to ask to do it IMO, if that is the route we go, if Bogosian sits then Spurgeon will have to eat his PK minutes. Jiricek should get PP time as well if he plays given that his ability to generate offense is his biggest strength, someone will lose minutes there. Jiricek's ELC is also up after next season, that could be a difficult 2nd contract to maneuver with how Jiricek/Walsh have handled this situation.

 

[Puhis]

Pick needs to stay in the 20's.

I wouldn't mind if it goes to 30's, personally.

 

[Minnewildsota]

They will have to focus on pivoting. He’s not good at transitioning from closing a play down into backwards skating/defending. Additionally his backwards skating is poor enough that it impacts his gap control (looser gaps due to fear of getting beat wide). It’s gonna take time but I think he’s got an NHL future. Not sure why we “gave up” on him so soon, makes me think his agent asked for a trade.

I've done their skating classes, they REALLY focus on edge work.

 

[57special]

Why did the Isles trade Nino?

This team needed a Top 4 RD to replace Spurgeon in the next 3 years. Bringing in a former 6th overall pick that is two years into his development makes a lot of sense for our timeline. Defensemen take more time to develop too, so there’s still value in the fact that he was taken 6th overall & was considered a Top 10-15 prospect just a year ago.

Think of trading a late 1st, 2nd, and 2 3rds for the 6th overall pick in any draft. I’d be willing to bet it works out for the team getting that player most of the time.

Nino is a really good comparison. NYI's fans painted him as a spoiled, arrogant, brat. When he got here he was anything but, and has turned out to be well liked just about everywhere he has gone.

Difference with this situation is that Waddell merely cleaned up the mess that Jarmo created.

 

[Digitalbooya]

look at this in reverse, IF jiricek was so good why would they trade him? people say he skates slow and his stats are nothing to brag about. what about his game makes him worth anywhere near what we paid? who cares he was 6th overall.

I trust Judd Brackett:

“He is an average skater, but it’s good enough,” Brackett said. “You’re not going to look at him and go, ‘Oh, jeez!’ It’s good enough. And as he gets older and gets more and more of man strength, I think it’ll be fine. It wasn’t an issue in his draft year. It was a little bit of strength-related. But, if there’s an area that’s behind, I’d agree his skill, his compete, his hockey sense are all better than his skating.”