Rumor: David Jiricek available

[Luigi Lemieux]

General Q - Does Waddell have any history of drafting/developing defenseman? I cant think of one defenseman from his tenure in Carolina that the drafted and developed (Pesce and Slavin drafted and debuted before Waddell was GM).

If that's the case, can we trust his ability to evaluate D talent?

But he did manage Carolina for years. That's a very mobile team and if that's his vision for the jackets then maybe Jiricek doesn't fit anyway.

 

[tiburon12]

But he did manage Carolina for years. That's a very mobile team and if that's his vision for the jackets then maybe Jiricek doesn't fit anyway.

yea he's great and IDing D and bringing them in. Just speculating if his regime is the best at knowing what he has in a developing D.

Interesting to think about, though probably means little lol

 

[Scoresberg]

If we're talking about packages instead of one-for-one deals, I do believe the Preds could be a strong candidate.

Evangelista/Kemell
2024 1st round pick (the better of the 1sts VGK/TBL, top-10 protected, if top-10 pick then CBJ gets the worse of the two)
2024 2nd round pick (TBL's pick)

I do wonder if CBJ would be interested in Magnus Chrona as well. Has put up some good numbers in the AHL and in terms of goalie prospects, I'm not seeing much with CBJ. If they're in need of veteran players, we could interest you in a Nyquist or a Sissons.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

Pettersson is the last type of dman the Canucks need. They struggle at breaking the puck out of their own end, why would they add a dman who struggles at just that?

Pettersson doesn't struggle with that. The Pens system struggles at that. But the player doesn't.

Marcus skates well, has a strong outlet pass, is good for 30-35pts and he's a reliable defenseman in his own end. The issue is the Penguins almost non existent defensive structure and system has everything looking terrible.

That is not an indictment to Pettersson and I know Allvin and JR know this.

Vancouver would just take Jiricek here.

Yeah that's a stupid trade entirely. Pens can't get Jiricek unless they overpay to get more to land him. And then Sullivan will use this player like garbage anyway.

The simple trade is Vancouver getting Marcus Pettersson and at best, a third team maybe taking salary retention or the canucks add a little bit to dump salary back (like Forbort, Desharnais, one of them).

 

[AtlantaWhaler]

General Q - Does Waddell have any history of drafting/developing defenseman? I cant think of one defenseman from his tenure in Carolina that the drafted and developed (Pesce and Slavin drafted and debuted before Waddell was GM).

If that's the case, can we trust his ability to evaluate D talent?

Tobias Enstrom (Thrashers) I think may be his best drafted defenseman

 

[surixon]

Or if he's really smart he finds a way to keep him. Whether that's pumping his tires to keep him going or being more of a hardass and reminding them that the team has the control and he'll have to improve his play to either make the big team or to boost his value enough so a trade comes through that benefits the CBJ.

The timing of all this is very poor, later in the season or probably even better yet the offseason would be the time for a deal to happen

Also a possibility. I haven't been following this situation close enough to know if his relationship with the team is broken beyond repair.

It's in the players best interest to work his ass off in the AHL to prove to teams interested that he can step in and is worth the cost, or prove to management to open a spot for him on the roster.

 

[SteelCityCannon]

If we're talking about packages instead of one-for-one deals, I do believe the Preds could be a strong candidate.

Evangelista/Kemell
2024 1st round pick (the better of the 1sts VGK/TBL, top-10 protected, if top-10 pick then CBJ gets the worse of the two)
2024 2nd round pick (TBL's pick)

I do wonder if CBJ would be interested in Magnus Chrona as well. Has put up some good numbers in the AHL and in terms of goalie prospects, I'm not seeing much with CBJ. If they're in need of veteran players, we could interest you in a Nyquist or a Sissons.

I really hope they continue to push for a 1 for 1 trade, but if it's not I think they'll be able to get a better deal picks wise.

 

[Empoleon8771]

The Pens offered their best prospect for McGroarty who wasn't going to sign with the Jets.

If Wadell is smart he holds out for the value he wants. He has the player already signed and under team control. He can afford to let him get his game going in the AHL.

Not only that, but the rumors are that they're also offering McGroarty for Jiricek.

I understand that Jiricek won't bring back his "true value" but I don't know why people are saying he's only going to bring back crap. With that Bonk example, I don't see why Philly would have any sort of issue doing that. Both are RHD so it's basically just upgrading (IMO) from Bonk to Jiricek. Bonk's a very good prospect so Columbus gets back something good as well, but it's still a net upgrade for Philly.

I feel like Columbus should be getting a prospect like Bonk, McGroarty or Ohgren as the centerpiece for Jiricek. One of those guys and a smaller plus (think B prospect or late 2nd/early 3rd caliber) for Jiricek should be reasonable.

 

[Czechboy]

Yes, of course. He was also an NHL regular who could skate like the wind, showed flashes of brilliance, and produced darn well with minimum PP time due to Makar and Toews.

I'm not being negative about Jiricek. For a year+ I've insisted the Jackets are mishandling him and are on the verge of ruining him. I like the kid a lot and think Columbus gave him mixed signals and botched the entire situation. But, I also believe they are not dealing from a position of strength and will move him for a decent return... yet far from amazing.

If you are arguing Byram is a more magical skater, zero argument. If you are arguing he was flying in the NHL at Jiricek's age. Strong disagree. He was drafted and went back to junior (Jiricek was AHL and NHL0. In his second year he had 19 games and 2 points. His third year had him back in the AHL.

The rest I totally agree with. No idea how not playing a guy anywhere makes him better? I hope Columbus gets a great return but am guessing they will regret this one in the long run.

 

[Empoleon8771]

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If you are arguing Byram is a more magical skater, zero argument. If you are arguing he was flying in the NHL at Jiricek's age. Strong disagree. He was drafted and went back to junior (Jiricek was AHL and NHL0. In his second year he had 19 games and 2 points. His third year had him back in the AHL.

The rest I totally agree with. No idea how not playing a guy anywhere makes him better? I hope Columbus gets a great return but am guessing they will regret this one in the long run.

I'm also confused for why you'd argue that Mittelstadt isn't a good return for him, either. Mittelstadt definitely struggled early in his career, but he broke out in 2022-2023 and continued to be a 60 point 2C in the season he was moved by Buffalo. He's now performing even better than that for Colorado, it's hardly a move that looks bad for Colorado at this point.

 

[SteelCityCannon]

I'm also confused for why you'd argue that Mittelstadt isn't a good return for him, either. Mittelstadt definitely struggled early in his career, but he broke out in 2022-2023 and continued to be a 60 point 2C in the season he was moved by Buffalo. He's now performing even better than that for Colorado, it's hardly a move that looks bad for Colorado at this point.

I was actually going to bring that up as well. If we got a player like him for Jiricek I would be satisfied honestly.

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

As an organization, the Jackets have never been great, and they don't have a stellar track record of developing high-end talent... but they refuse to give talents like Jiricek and Mateychuk a chance.

The Jackets' lack of a stellar track record in developing high-end talent is largely because they've done what you want them to do with Jiricek and Mateychuk right now.

 

[Peter Griffin]

I feel like Columbus should be getting a prospect like Bonk, McGroarty or Ohgren as the centerpiece for Jiricek. One of those guys and a smaller plus (think B prospect or late 2nd/early 3rd caliber) for Jiricek should be reasonable.

If that's the ask I wouldn't be opposed to a Lekkerimaki+ deal from Vancouver.+

 

[Empoleon8771]

If that's the ask I wouldn't be opposed to a Lekkerimaki+ deal from Vancouver.+

Yeah that’s about what I’d expect from Vancouver, either him or Willander.

A mid/late 1st rounder that is progressing well and a small plus for Jiricek seems totally reasonable.

 

[Czechboy]

I'm also confused for why you'd argue that Mittelstadt isn't a good return for him,

I argued this?

 

[Fro]

I think of Chara and what he was at this age. Similar concerns and did not have Jiricek's puck skills.

I would be very cautious about trading a prospect like this.

I see a huge upside in him..I really don't want to trade him

I trust Wadell to do the right thing, but our draft this year and what's in Cleveland rn, we have reserves coming