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

[DigitalBoldy]

Thinking about this, Wild fans keep bringing up Rossi but Rossi had one thing that I keep hearing that Jiricek doesn't have and that's a good hockey sense. Rossi never had any issues with his hockey sense. It was his size and his skating that held him back. And we can see that now. He can process the game at a high enough level that was never a hangup.

However with Jiricek, it appears that one of his hindrances is how he processes the game and how slow he is at it. That's what really worries me about Jiricek and why I don't think the Rossi development is one to follow with Jiricek.

My biggest concern is that the Wild traded for the equivalent of Benoit Pouliot. Tons of talent, but no sense to use them.

What are you basing that on?

 

[thestonedkoala]

What are you basing that on?

Highlights, previous scouting reports from Columbus fans.

 

[BagHead]

Highlights, previous scouting reports from Columbus fans.

Kind of funny how that changed from his draft profile in 2022:

“Mobile defender with good size and a bomb of a shot from the point. Plays a physical brand of hockey and has the potential to contribute in a variety of ways as an NHL defenseman.” -Nick Richard, Dobber Prospects


“Jiříček has good puck tracking ability. He does an excellent job scanning the ice and moving his body around the offensive zone at the same pace as his opponents’ puck movement. The Czech defender reacts quickly to puck movement, if he spots a loose puck coming up the boards towards him, he shifts his hips and knees in a pivot to trap possession of the puck.” -Josh Tessler, Smaht Scouting


“Jiricek is an exceptional two-way defender that shows a strong transition ability. He reads the play so well, playing like a veteran defender well above his age. He regularly shows very impressive reads, noting where players are and correctly attacking or hanging back as needed.” -Josh Bell, FC Hockey

Columbus fans say he has bad hockey sense, can't skate, and isn't physical. These guys say he reads the play well, is mobile, and is physical. The knee injury in 2022 explains the loss of mobility, but what about the rest?

 

[57special]

Kind of funny how that changed from his draft profile in 2022:

Columbus fans say he has bad hockey sense, can't skate, and isn't physical. These guys say he reads the play well, is mobile, and is physical. The knee injury in 2022 explains the loss of mobility, but what about the rest?

Some of the pre draft scouting reports for Nail Yakupov praised his hockey IQ.

 

[DigitalBoldy]

Highlights, previous scouting reports from Columbus fans.

I wouldn’t trust anything fans say and I wouldn’t use just highlights as a means to judge a player.

 

[MNRube]

Blueline is really in a great place. Faber, Brodin, Spurgeon, Middleton are currently solid 1D-4D respectively and then you also have Chisholm as a great 3rd pair piece and two guys with high ceilings in Zeev & Jiricek on the way.

 

[BagHead]

Some of the pre draft scouting reports for Nail Yakupov praised his hockey IQ.

Yeah, it's just crazy how perceptions of a guy can be so different over time and different levels of hockey. I wasn't saying Jackets fans were wrong, just how it's crazy that he was considered an entirely different player just two years ago.

 

[Circulartheory]

Some of the pre draft scouting reports for Nail Yakupov praised his hockey IQ.

I remember seeing/reading the bit of the opposite - he was a bit of a one-man show and slightly one dimensional but I forgave all that because of the flash and had confirmation bias from the rankings.

Look at his weaknesses, they are all minor points. Sure, he could use his teammates more often but he's already so damn good by himself. Sure, his defensive game and play away from the puck isn't his niche, but he's solid in those areas and committed to improving them. Sure, he doesn't have a 6'5 frame to endure the physical strains of his feisty play but thats just asking "how good won't he be". - Idiot me in 2012​

Since then. I moved towards more well-rounded prospects with potential of flash (see Ohgren with his shot, and with Buium, I fell in love with his smarts and defensive game before I even loved his puck rushing game).

I still have faith in Jiricek because to me, he isn't a one-dimensional prospect but rather a raw prospect that has been developed poorly in Columbus. But he's still young, he still has time - and yes he may not have the same height as when he was drafted #6 overall but I'm hoping he can be a #3-#4 guy and I would gladly trade 28th overall pick + a few extra scraps for that.

EDIT: I was also head over heels for Emerson Etem in 2010 - never again!

 

[thestonedkoala]

I forget where I read it but someone mentioned Jiricek is like the Czech equivalent of Shawn Belle and now I can't get that out of my head.

 

[keppel146]

I forget where I read it but someone mentioned Jiricek is like the Czech equivalent of Shawn Belle and now I can't get that out of my head.

Shawn Belle or Sean Day?

 

[thestonedkoala]

Shawn Belle or Sean Day?

Shawn Belle. Belle was very toolsy but couldn't put it together.