Rumor: David Jiricek available

[Longtime Local]

Instead of spending countless pages and spilling ink over proper syntax, we could just use some critical thinking to realize that Ohgren and a first isn’t going to get it done. For example, it was reported by Dhaliwal the other day that Columbus inquired about Willander from Vancouver and were rebuffed. Once that happened, Columbus called the Canucks and told them there wasn’t anything they would want. Why would Columbus tell Vancouver that, and then accept a package of Ohgren+1st that a team like Vancouver could match? If you look at all of the teams reported to be in the hunt, all of them have high end prospects or are in line for a top 10 pick this upcoming draft. Not hard to deduce what the Jackets are looking for and willing to accept.

 

[AKL]

For example, it was reported by Dhaliwal the other day that Columbus inquired about Willander from Vancouver and were rebuffed. Once that happened, Columbus called the Canucks and told them there wasn’t anything they would want. Why would Columbus tell Vancouver that, and then accept a package of Ohgren+1st that a team like Vancouver could match?

So to be clear

It was Vancouver that declined the Willander trade, not Columbus

So that may give you a hint why Columbus would then accept something like Ohgren+1st

You'd be on to something if Vancouver called and offered Willander and Columbus declined.

 

[SteelCityCannon]

Instead of spending countless pages and spilling ink over proper syntax, we could just use some critical thinking to realize that Ohgren and a first isn’t going to get it done. For example, it was reported by Dhaliwal the other day that Columbus inquired about Willander from Vancouver and were rebuffed. Once that happened, Columbus called the Canucks and told them there wasn’t anything they would want. Why would Columbus tell Vancouver that, and then accept a package of Ohgren+1st that a team like Vancouver could match? If you look at all of the teams reported to be in the hunt, all of them have high end prospects or are in line for a top 10 pick this upcoming draft. Not hard to deduce what the Jackets are looking for and willing to accept.

You're putting a lot of faith into the click lords, but the logic is dead on.

 

[Viqsi]

So to be clear

It was Vancouver that declined the Willander trade, not Columbus

So that may give you a hint why Columbus would then accept something like Ohgren+1st

Except that this reasoning presumes that a trade must happen, or otherwise that Waddell is attempting to force one. There are no indications giving this other than what folks have been speculating based on very limited information.

Y'all see "1st and prospect" and think "oh, that's why we must still be supposedly in the hunt, because giving up any of the Big Three would be absurd and Russo agrees." We see "1st and prospect" and think "oh, well, that explains why there's still any talk at all of teams like Pittsburgh and Nashville."

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Words can be hard for people

Words like "want" and "only" have the same number of letters, have only 1 of the same letters, yet I guess can be easily confused.

 

[M2Beezy]

Time for both sides to finally get this thing done. Seems obvious at this point and both teams win:

To Columbus: Hoglander, Kunz, Forbort, Bains, Briesbois, 2026 5th, 2027 5th

To Vancouver: Jiricek, 2025 3rd

 

[Longtime Local]

So to be clear

It was Vancouver that declined the Willander trade, not Columbus

So that may give you a hint why Columbus would then accept something like Ohgren+1st

You'd be on to something if Vancouver called and offered Willander and Columbus declined.

Except you’re missing the part where once Vancouver told them no to Willander, they were no longer in contention for Jiricek. If Columbus would accept Ohgren+1st, why would they tell Vancouver they were out of the running if they could offer Hoglander+1st or Lekkerimaki+1st? Unless they are targeting a better player from the Wild, which is why they are still in the running for Jiricek, it just doesn’t make sense!

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Except you’re missing the part where once Vancouver told them no to Willander, they were no longer in contention for Jiricek. If Columbus would accept Ohgren+1st, why would they tell Vancouver they were out of the running if they could offer Hoglander+1st or Lekkerimaki+1st? Unless they are targeting a better player from the Wild, which is why they are still in the running for Jiricek, it just doesn’t make sense!

Because the 1st might not be on the table from Vancouver.

 

[AKL]

Except you’re missing the part where once Vancouver told them no to Willander, they were no longer in contention for Jiricek. If Columbus would accept Ohgren+1st, why would they tell Vancouver they were out of the running if they could offer Hoglander+1st or Lekkerimaki+1st? Unless they are targeting a better player from the Wild, which is why they are still in the running for Jiricek, it just doesn’t make sense!

Columbus called the Canucks and told them there wasn’t anything they would want.

Not wanting Lekkerimaki doesn't mean they wouldn't want Ohgren or Heidt or one of the numerous other pieces Minnesota can offer that Vancouver can't.

Minnesota has much better prospect depth, even excluding Yurov, Buium and Wallstedt.

For all we know, Minnesota's offer may be something like Ohgren+Peart+ and Waddell could be in love with both of those guys way more than he likes Lekkerimaki.

We get it, it's been explained ad nauseam that Blue Jackets fans only want a 1 for 1 and there doesn't need to be a trade if they don't get it.

Wild fans have more than one reliable source stating it's a package of prospect+ for Jiricek. Trading any of Yurov, Buium or Wallstedt are both unlikely and wouldn't necessitate a +. They also have multiple sources claiming they're a frontrunner, if not the frontrunner.

So forgive us if the information we have, and our deductive reasoning skills lead us to believe the package on the table is Ohgren+.

Because the 1st might not be on the table from Vancouver.

Also this. Ohgren+1st is more valuable than Willander alone.

 

[Digitalbooya]

From the Jackets' perspective, the difference is that Jiricek is much more badly needed as he's a high-end prospect at a position we badly need. Ohgren is also a high quality prospect, but we're pretty well set on wingers, so he's not valued here as much. What the gap is isn't something I could say, since we don't really have any other significant needs other than "current goaltending" and that would be more than the Wild should or would nominally be expected to use to cover the gap. So it's really just "add more picks."

Okay, that’s some good information. Is RD and goaltending the only pieces that would be acceptable?

I had initially posted an idea with the intent of giving a prospect that covers a large chunk of Jiricek’s value (Ohgren) and a RD prospect that needs a shot (Spacek) + pick. That could be finagled to at least include pieces that make sense to CBJ organizationally (even if the offer isn’t accepted).

 

[AKL]

I had initially posted an idea with the intent of giving a prospect that covers a large chunk of Jiricek’s value (Ohgren) and a RD prospect that needs a shot (Spacek) + pick.

Fun fact, I linked that exact post when they said no one had even offered Ohgren. I was told it didn't count because it was half a week ago.

Edit: Oh I guess it wasn't the one that specifically named Spacek, it was just generic RD+pick.

 

[Digitalbooya]

Not wanting Lekkerimaki doesn't mean they wouldn't want Ohgren or Heidt or one of the numerous other pieces Minnesota can offer that Vancouver can't.

Minnesota has much better prospect depth, even excluding Yurov, Buium and Wallstedt.

For all we know, Minnesota's offer may be something like Ohgren+Peart+ and Waddell could be in love with both of those guys way more than he likes Lekkerimaki.

We get it, it's been explained ad nauseam that Blue Jackets fans only want a 1 for 1 and there doesn't need to be a trade if they don't get it.

Wild fans have more than one reliable source stating it's a package of prospect+ for Jiricek. Trading any of Yurov, Buium or Wallstedt are both unlikely and wouldn't necessitate a +. They also have multiple sources claiming they're a frontrunner, if not the frontrunner.

So forgive us if the information we have, and our deductive reasoning skills lead us to believe the package on the table is Ohgren+.



Also this. Ohgren+1st is more valuable than Willander alone.

It could be that CBJ wants a RD prospect in return and Minnesota would be willing to trade Spacek in the trade.

 

[AKL]

It could be that CBJ wants a RD prospect in return and Minnesota would be willing to trade Spacek in the trade.

Exactly, there are numerous reasons for Columbus to look at Minnesota after Vancouver said no to moving Willander.

 

[Digitalbooya]

Fun fact, I linked that exact post when they said no one had even offered Ohgren. I was told it didn't count because it was half a week ago.

Edit: Oh I guess it wasn't the one that specifically named Spacek, it was just generic RD+pick.

Do we even have any other RD in the organization worth anything? Maybe Healey. Probably not Masters… I think I mentioned Spacek on the Wild sub forum specifically, but left it open ended here in case someone valued a prospect like Healey over Spacek.

 

[AKL]

Do we even have any other RD in the organization worth anything? Maybe Healey. Probably not Masters… I think I mentioned Spacek on the Wild sub forum specifically, but left it open ended here in case someone valued a prospect like Healey over Spacek.

Or if they somehow value Kalem Parker, Kyle Masters or Sebastian Soini, but I doubt it. I don't really know Waddell's tendencies when it comes to prospects.

I'd ask Columbus fans if any of them were interested in divulging that information, but I'm not sure they would be.

 

[Viqsi]

Okay, that’s some good information. Is RD and goaltending the only pieces that would be acceptable?

I had initially posted an idea with the intent of giving a prospect that covers a large chunk of Jiricek’s value (Ohgren) and a RD prospect that needs a shot (Spacek) + pick. That could be finagled to at least include pieces that make sense to CBJ organizationally (even if the offer isn’t accepted).

There might be others but they're more likely to be based on whether or not Waddell and/or the scouting staff personally thinks the specific player is a good fit. While that could mean Ohgren+ is not outside of the realm of possibility, it's difficult to get a reliable read on that, and finding consensus here is going to be difficult. (And making any noises of approval in that direction tends to trigger a wave of copycat attempts of Any Old Prospect Winger Plus A 2nd proposals and lots of arguments when the response is "those don't fit".)

The goaltending situation, incidentally, is more of a "current goaltending" thing, and is thus a lot more complicated. Tarasov is playing really poorly, and while he's on a nice streak right now Elvis is still Elvis. In the system there's guys like Ivanov and Strahl and Greaves that all show occasional encouraging signs like they could be good someday but even if they do get there they'd be years and years away; there's no real blue-chipper. My impression of the Wild's situation is that y'all wouldn't want to touch the current roster, so I'm not sure if that's a productive discussion to be had.

Also, I don't imagine Spacek would get a shot here anytime soon. We don't give out minutes to guys just because they were born here. But more realistically, Fabbro is playing such that he deserves an extension, and then there's Severson and Gudbranson to consider after that. If Jiricek meets his upside we'd just stuff Gudbranson back into the press box and call it done because said upside is Just That Good, but for depth beyond that the organization is high on Elick and Marrelli is having an absolutely killer D+1 season, so there's not much room for guys who aren't already showing a lot of potential promise. It's possible the scouts here think Spacek would be good enough to get callup minutes regardless but I'm not in a position to figure that one way or the other.

So, short version: lots of uncertainty, no firm answers, just do the damn 1-for-1 already.

 

[Digitalbooya]

Also, I don't imagine Spacek would get a shot here anytime soon. We don't give out minutes to guys just because they were born here. But more realistically, Fabbro is playing such that he deserves an extension, and then there's Severson and Gudbranson to consider after that. If Jiricek meets his upside we'd just stuff Gudbranson back into the press box and call it done because said upside is Just That Good, but for depth beyond that the organization is high on Elick and Marrelli is having an absolutely killer D+1 season, so there's not much room for guys who aren't already showing a lot of potential promise. It's possible the scouts here think Spacek would be good enough to get callup minutes regardless but I'm not in a position to figure that one way or the other.

Ha, didn’t even realize Spacek was born in Columbus. I think he has potential. Every major tournament he looked good (WJC, WC). Off to a fast start this year in the AHL (9pts in 17gp) on a dysfunctional Iowa team. I’ve been a huge fan of his for a few years.

 

[LeBrun is a Clown]

Time for both sides to finally get this thing done. Seems obvious at this point and both teams win:

To Columbus: Hoglander, Kunz, Forbort, Bains, Briesbois, 2026 5th, 2027 5th

To Vancouver: Jiricek, 2025 3rd

This is one of those proposals where is consists of nothing more than the same regurgitated team scraps being offered for a highly sought after prospect and will be made fun of in retrospect after a deal inevitably gets done