Confirmed Trade: [MIN/CBJ] David Jiricek, 2025 5th round pick for Daemon Hunt, 2025 1st round pick, 2027 2nd round pick, 2026 3rd and 4th round picks

[P10p]

But that's one in the same thing, if CBJ says he's you're good, but there's some things you need to go back to Cleveland and work on if you're gonna make it in the NHL and he's telling you, no I think I'm good enough now...well he's hampering his own progression and therefore won't be a good enough player long term.


Obviously we don't know exactly what happened, there's been 0 reports on attitude or anything being an issue. It could be that maybe they just think he's not going to be a fit in the system. They want guys who can step up, get back and play a physical game. Jiricek is the furthest thing from physical, which is a shame because he has the frame for it.

Well if it's all speculation anyway it could just as easily be that he straight up didn't want to be a part of the CBJ organization going forward.

 

[CBJx614]

Well if it's all speculation anyway it could just as easily be that he straight up didn't want to be a part of the CBJ organization going forward.

CBJ wouldn't have traded him simply because he didn't want to be there. Jiricek has absolutely 0 leverage.

 

[Tbaybruin]

How do you turn a recent 6th overall pick into a pick in the late 20's and a pick in the late 50's plus an AHL defender?

Honestly that's a major blunder by Waddell.

Does it matter where you were drafted? Kaprisov was a 5th rounder. Let’s see how it all works out.

 

[SteelCityCannon]

But numerous cbj fans were here saying there's no issue, him sitting over 10 games is totally normal, the trade talk is unfounded he willingly went to the ahl.

None of that was the reality. If they thought he needed to improve, why wasn't in Cleveland all year? Because it seems like he refused to. To me it reads more like an attitude issue than them thinking he isn't going to be good enough longterm

It was weird because coming into camp he was not only penciled on the team, but in the top 4 really. He had an open door to get there and was absolutely horrific in the preseason. That's what worked him down the lineup.

Now I would agree, he needed to be playing 20+ in Cleveland vs in the press box. I think the Guddy injury might have impacted it a little bit, but it was likely him not wanting to go to the ahl before.

 

[thestonedkoala]

Does it matter where you were drafted? Kaprisov was a 5th rounder. Let’s see how it all works out.

Kaprizov was also a unicorn who was too small and had awkward skating that dropped him. He also took 6 years to get to the NHL.

 

[Warh1ppy]

The about face opinions of people who had line in the sand beliefs about what Jiricek was worth vs what he returned is kind of wild.

 

[JiricekSaveUs]

Does it matter where you were drafted? Kaprisov was a 5th rounder. Let’s see how it all works out.

It does matter where you’re drafted, don’t let anyone tell you it doesn’t. If we’re throwing darts, I wanna be throwing them at players in the top 10. Jiricek could be a complete bust and chances are we didn’t give away anything that hurt all too much anyways. Look at the players who were drafted 5th, 6th, 7th overall recently and compare to the players that were drafted in the mid twenties. Odds are in the twenties you might get a decent nhl player. I’d rather take a shot on a guy with that top 10 pedigree because historically you have a much better chance of hitting on a star. I’ll trade 2 or 3 bottom half of the lineup guys for a chance at a star any day.

 

[Xoggz22]

Trade plus the Wild’s locker room culture should do wonders for his motivation level. Then when you consider the team style and systems, it’s hard not to be excited as a Wild fan. He brings an element that we have been lacking since the Dumba injury with his booming point shot.

Big guys, and D men just take longer, need a lot of strength and practice to find your edges consistently at NHL paces. Even a guy like Boldy struggled with the skating pace and balance needed until really the last year ish.

The Wild are filled to the brim now and in the future with sublime skating D men, there is room for someone a little weaker in that regard but brings other elements like shooting and net front presence.

Bogosian is the obvious template for him on this roster and finding short term success, Jiricek lacks the vet savviness but brings a shot that should be quite impactful right out of the gate. The Wild are very strong as a team on puck retrievals and getting their D men opportunities to unleash from the point, it’s a friendly place to start his career IMO.

Not arguing with you, but the CBJ room, system and coaching this year should have helped him jump start to improvement. I'm not disagreeing with your post. I think he has the ability to be a really good one, but the system played in Columbus preaches pinching and offense, which should have been perfect for him. What we're saying/seeing (CBJ fans) is that he's coming off as an entitled kid that feels he's already become a NHL defenseman. To your point, someone (besides his agent) needs to get his attention and buckle down to work on the warts he's shown. I wish him nothing but success. I have my doubts in the limited showing he's had in Columbus, but the skill set is there to be a good one. It's on him to change the narrative.

 

[Crede777]

Does it matter where you were drafted? Kaprisov was a 5th rounder. Let’s see how it all works out.

They'll say that where a player is drafted doesn't matter as soon as he's drafted. They'll also point out the sunk cost fallacy and the fact that Waddell wasn't the one that drafted him. That said, you can't disregard draft capital a team has invested in a player.

To liken the situation to a car - If I inherit a car that someone spent $30,000 on 2 years ago and I think it's a lemon, it makes sense for me to sell it for $20,000. If I inherit a car someone spent $100,000 on 2 years ago and I think it's a lemon, a lot of people are going to be rightly upset if I sell it for $20,000. Even if it's a lemon, it behooves me to try to get it fixed as much as possible before giving up on it.

 

[Xoggz22]

That Evason was playing him even less than the previous regime is a fact that shouldn't be lost in this. Evason is a very good regular season coach. If he's scratching a guy, he probably isn't deserving of it. Ironic that the GM that believed in Evason is in a way now believing he was wrong with Jiricek.


Totally agree. It's the killer flaw for players. And skating at this age is rarely "fixed" or even significantly improved. IQ is also a thing you usually have it or you don't. There's a reason Jiricek doesn't have an NHL highlight reel. One just has to go back and watch plays where his team gets scored on. It's usually a brutal video of his problems with skating, IQ, and lack of physicality. He's the opposite of hard to play against. At this point in his career, he would only be useful on our PP.

This trade makes so little sense for us. He's not a win-in-the-short-term piece, and you just gave away your best assets to get a player like that. He's a win-later maybe, but we already have quite a few prospects in the same age range, and by then is Kaprizov even here and still this good? It's a trade you make in NHL 25.

Only point I will make is that with the puck on his stick and when he's decisive, he's really good moving forward. He does have a great shot and that can be seen, but there are few clips that display his upside when looking at the NHL. Again, I hope he puts it together. Being in the West, I have no issue with him developing. I do have my doubts, but not wishing against him

 

[Xoggz22]

Yeh agility. 4 way agility. He moves and pivots quick for a big man. That lack has held many big D men back in the past.

A good system and good coaching can cover for defensive IQ and positioning issues. That’ll come down to coaching. We have that in Edmonton and it’s making 3rd pair defenceman like Ceci, Stetcher, Emberson, and Kulak play like top 4 without issue.

I think he needs more acceleration. That can be trained and developed.

In theory, Evason should have been a perfect coach for him. I think he should have stayed in Europe to get strength and more experience but that was the old regime. His limited showing in the NHL shows he has a long way to go to be a NHL defenseman...regardless of coach. I'll disagree that his pivots are quick for a big man...and I hate having to say "for a big man" because that means it's not good enough in general in my book. Certainly a time will tell situation. I have no issue with the move at this point, but, hey, as a CBJ fan I'll be like all fans and be pissed when he puts it together and becomes a 2/3 type defenseman.

They'll say that where a player is drafted doesn't matter as soon as he's drafted. They'll also point out the sunk cost fallacy and the fact that Waddell wasn't the one that drafted him. That said, you can't disregard draft capital a team has invested in a player.

To liken the situation to a car - If I inherit a car that someone spent $30,000 on 2 years ago and I think it's a lemon, it makes sense for me to sell it for $20,000. If I inherit a car someone spent $100,000 on 2 years ago and I think it's a lemon, a lot of people are going to be rightly upset if I sell it for $20,000. Even if it's a lemon, it behooves me to try to get it fixed as much as possible before giving up on it.

You know they are called lemons because they are inherently unfixable right?

 

[Gregor Samsa]

The about face opinions of people who had line in the sand beliefs about what Jiricek was worth vs what he returned is kind of wild.

That will always happen when a fanbase’s bias is involved. Everyone overrates their own prospects and underestimates other teams prospects barring a few immense talents.

Not related: It’s hard to tell how an 18 year old will be in 5-10 years. Part of the GM and developmental team’s job is to evaluate how a prospect is progressing. Prospects are either trade currency or a part of your future. If you think a prospect is more valuable in a trade than on your future team, you make that trade before value sinks. I don’t know much about Jiricek but Waddell clearly bet against Jiricek. It’s one of those trades that will either blow up in his face if Jiricek pans out as a top pair dman, or make him look smart because he cut bait at the right time and recouped value

 

[thestonedkoala]

Not arguing with you, but the CBJ room, system and coaching this year should have helped him jump start to improvement.

Not for anything, but isn't Elvis...a bit of a head case? And so is Werenski and his whole political beliefs?

 

[P10p]

CBJ wouldn't have traded him simply because he didn't want to be there. Jiricek has absolutely 0 leverage.

His leverage is he causes a scene, refuses to report to ahl, and his value tanks even more. How is that having no leverage

 

[Xoggz22]

Not for anything, but isn't Elvis...a bit of a head case? And so is Werenski and his whole political beliefs?

Well, I'm not in the room so I can't speak to these on authority, but I can say that Evason has been on record saying Elvis has been outstanding with his attitude and approach in the room. This was in a recent Portzline article on The Athletic. I'm sure he's going to say that, but he also came out and shut Elvis down after he lost a shutout bid in the last minute and slammed his stick, made a scene... yes, he likes the limelight and I think many of us would say he wasn't viewed as the best teammate, but I'm pretty sure not all teams have 23 guys with the same beliefs, mindset, attitude, approach.

As for Z... I have no idea about his political beliefs, but from there's been nothing that I've seen to indicate he's made them a point of issue within the organization (Whatever they are. This is the first I've heard of somethign like this)

 

[Viqsi]

Not arguing with you, but the CBJ room, system and coaching this year should have helped him jump start to improvement. I'm not disagreeing with your post. I think he has the ability to be a really good one, but the system played in Columbus preaches pinching and offense, which should have been perfect for him. What we're saying/seeing (CBJ fans) is that he's coming off as an entitled kid that feels he's already become a NHL defenseman. To your point, someone (besides his agent) needs to get his attention and buckle down to work on the warts he's shown. I wish him nothing but success. I have my doubts in the limited showing he's had in Columbus, but the skill set is there to be a good one. It's on him to change the narrative.

The only major difference between this and my take on him here is simply that I figured he'd ultimately find a way to do that here and thereby become something super-valuable that we need, rather than needing to make a trade happen. Folks seem to be thinking of the likes of Nikita Filatov ("trade him before he busts!") while my mind is more on someone like David Savard (seemingly intransigently stalled for years then suddenly "comes back out of nowhere").

 

[StreetHawk]

That will always happen when a fanbase’s bias is involved. Everyone overrates their own prospects and underestimates other teams prospects barring a few immense talents.

Not related: It’s hard to tell how an 18 year old will be in 5-10 years. Part of the GM and developmental team’s job is to evaluate how a prospect is progressing. Prospects are either trade currency or a part of your future. If you think a prospect is more valuable in a trade than on your future team, you make that trade before value sinks. I don’t know much about Jiricek but Waddell clearly bet against Jiricek. It’s one of those trades that will either blow up in his face if Jiricek pans out as a top pair dman, or make him look smart because he cut bait at the right time and recouped value

Waddell has no personal bias in Jiricek. Evaluating him based on what he is now, not what CBJ saw in 2022. Things can change in just over 2 years.

 

[thestonedkoala]

Well, I'm not in the room so I can't speak to these on authority, but I can say that Evason has been on record saying Elvis has been outstanding with his attitude and approach in the room. This was in a recent Portzline article on The Athletic. I'm sure he's going to say that, but he also came out and shut Elvis down after he lost a shutout bid in the last minute and slammed his stick, made a scene... yes, he likes the limelight and I think many of us would say he wasn't viewed as the best teammate, but I'm pretty sure not all teams have 23 guys with the same beliefs, mindset, attitude, approach.

True, but it appears that Minnesota seems more cohesive (see the Duhaime/Fleury pranks). Fleury has been huge for the Wild and their team chemistry.

As for Z... I have no idea about his political beliefs, but from there's been nothing that I've seen to indicate he's made them a point of issue within the organization (Whatever they are. This is the first I've heard of somethign like this)

There are deleted Tweets and other speculation, especially around Covid. Werenski apparently believed Covid was a government conspiracy. He's also been on record of being a major QANON guy. It's hard to find things, but I do remember that.

Confirmed with Link: - Patrik Laine and 2026 2nd round pick acquired from the Blue Jackets in exchange for Jordan Harris

Read somewhere that Laine might have refuse to waive is NTC for another trade. I guessing this is also part of why the return was so low Laine wanted out of the CBJ but didn’t want to just end up in a similar situation. There were few team that could take is cap hit if he had all of them on is...

forums.hfboards.com

Here's a thread about Laine being traded from a few months ago talking about it.

 

[SteelCityCannon]

True, but it appears that Minnesota seems more cohesive (see the Duhaime/Fleury pranks). Fleury has been huge for the Wild and their team chemistry.

There are deleted Tweets and other speculation, especially around Covid. Werenski apparently believed Covid was a government conspiracy. He's also been on record of being a major QANON guy. It's hard to find things, but I do remember that.

Confirmed with Link: - Patrik Laine and 2026 2nd round pick acquired from the Blue Jackets in exchange for Jordan Harris

Read somewhere that Laine might have refuse to waive is NTC for another trade. I guessing this is also part of why the return was so low Laine wanted out of the CBJ but didn’t want to just end up in a similar situation. There were few team that could take is cap hit if he had all of them on is...

forums.hfboards.com

Here's a thread about Laine being traded from a few months ago talking about it.

Elvis, like a lot of goalies, is absolutely a headcase. He's made leaps and bounds improvements this year in that regard. There's been so many times it looks like he's gonna melt down and he hasn't. I give him a ton of props this year.

There's been 0 indication that Z has been anything but a great teammate and leader. Other players and Evason rave about him. Frankly, if the only player that finds issue with him is the player that finds issue everywhere I'm not super worried about it.

Jiricek had a great opportunity here. Hope he figures it out in Minny.