RD David Jiricek (2022, 6th, CBJ; traded to MIN)

[Boxscore]

The last 2 games Jiricek played, he averaged 9 minutes. I'm sorry but that's ridiculous. Columbus is 2nd to last in the East... this isn't the 82 Islanders here. Jiricek and Mateychuk should be eating up NHL minutes the way Mintyukov and Zellweger are in Anaheim.

 

[Kcoyote3]

I bet this is he just doesn’t want to be sent down and they don’t think he’s consistently one of their best defenders so he’s sitting. I think it’s dumb but it may just be that simple. He made a pretty public thing about being sent down last time and with new management they may just be trying to figure out how to not upset his camp so that he doesn’t ask for a trade. What a cluster though. He needs to just be in the AHL.

 

[stevo61]

Why would I frequent the CBJ board? I'm not a Jackets fan. I guess I should say "on the main boards, Jackets fans insisted that Laine was fine."

The point is that lots of teenagers need to put on weight and get stronger, Jiricek isn't special. If the only reason he's struggling at the NHL level is that he isn't physically strong enough yet, you simply let him play through it. You can put him on a development plan that includes load management like Leo Carlsson last year and Will Smith this year so they can get the time they need in the gym. But you don't make a comment like this if the healthy scratches are planned and not related to performance:

https://x.com/i/web/status/1857123103937376635

Except when Leo Carlsson was in the lineup he looked like he belonged. Jiricek had some better showings last year than this year. He can't keep up in Evason's heavier skating system. Obviously their are some frustration on both sides but I don't think being honest is a negative. Seems pretty simple to me, put in the work, play better, get into games. Right now he can't even beat out Jordan Harris. He shouldn't have sat after the Toronto game but when he did get back in it was more of the same.

Also Jiricek is about to be 21, You'd like to see more physical development at this point. But like I said, it's a mix of physical development and poor skating, he can't even rely on one or the other right now

The last 2 games Jiricek played, he averaged 9 minutes. I'm sorry but that's ridiculous. Columbus is 2nd to last in the East... this isn't the 82 Islanders here. Jiricek and Mateychuk should be eating up NHL minutes the way Mintyukov and Zellweger are in Anaheim.

Mateychuk should be exactly where he is. Putting up points and playing in all situations

 

[Just Linda]

We can all agree on one thing, the best solution is to trade him at this point.

Might not be the best for him, might not be the best for the team, but I find it entertaining to think about him on my team so it's best for me.

 

[stevo61]

We can all agree on one thing, the best solution is to trade him at this point.

Might not be the best for him, might not be the best for the team, but I find it entertaining to think about him on my team so it's best for me.

We don't agree at all

 

[martygod12]

We don't agree at all

I agree lol. I want him out of CBJ asap. He will never play NHL in this club, I really dont have faith in the organization who is rather scraping up useless players from all around the league like Fabbro or Harris then playing their own prospects.

If not Jiricek, then why is not Mateychuk or Svozil getting a chance? I mean they are almost dead last anyway, how much worse could it be if they put those three youngsters in the lineup instead of the overaged washouts who are not going anywhere anymore.

I mean team that is almost last in the league and sucks, signing and rather playing 25-26yrs old below average players rather then his own prospects with much bigger potential is just stupid, I am sorry.

 

[LeBrun is a Clown]

The last 2 games Jiricek played, he averaged 9 minutes. I'm sorry but that's ridiculous. Columbus is 2nd to last in the East... this isn't the 82 Islanders here. Jiricek and Mateychuk should be eating up NHL minutes the way Mintyukov and Zellweger are in Anaheim.

Anaheim will gladly take him off CBJ’s hands.

McTavish for Jiricek + 2nd

Can have a couple Czech buddies and a legit opportunity to succeed and develop to his true potential.

Honestly, if he does get traded eventually, say this draft or early next year, I see him getting traded to Anaheim for a young fwd like McTavish or Zegras while getting packaged with a 2nd or so, much like the drysdale for Gauthier trade. We’ll see but I get the sense that this situation ends with Jiricek on another team, likely in ANA

 

[LeBrun is a Clown]

We can all agree on one thing, the best solution is to trade him at this point.

Might not be the best for him, might not be the best for the team, but I find it entertaining to think about him on my team so it's best for me.

Agreed. there is no hope in CBJ and regardless, they still have Cuelmans, Mateychuk and a loaded proven top 4.

 

[Jovavic]

I would take that Ducks trade all day, though we don't have a 2nd until 2027

 

[anezthes]

McTavish or Zegras while getting packaged with a 2nd

Absolutely not.

 

[tunnelvision]

Alright Jacket's fans.. type slow and explain it to me...

It is November 15th. David Jiricek is healthy and has played 5 games for roughly 60 minutes of TOI. How is this helping him develop into an NHL dman?

Possible rational explanations:

- 6OA pick from 2 years ago who has 1RD upside. Some teams just want to take their time to figure out the proper development plan for that type of prospects, especially when it's early in the season and the new GM doesn't know the player that well yet who doesn't appear to be NHL-ready.

- He doesn't play a lot in the NHL because of the lack of strength, skating flaws, and occasional poor reads he keeps doing. He gets to spend more time in the gym, practices and video meetings with development/defensive coaches.

- He doesn't play in the AHL because the D coach Haviland he's worked with in previous years is now an assistant in Columbus. It's probably best for them to have a close connection so they can meet and watch video daily until they're confident Jiricek is able to learn the things he needs to learn without CBJ coaches' and Haviland's direct assistance.

Earlier this week Waddell told that they're talking and deciding soon "what's best for Jiricek right now", and added that playing so few games and minutes isn't ideal.

I think he will get to play more in the next X amount of games or remainder of the season, whether it's NHL or/and AHL.

 

[thebus88]

The last 2 games Jiricek played, he averaged 9 minutes. I'm sorry but that's ridiculous. Columbus is 2nd to last in the East... this isn't the 82 Islanders here. Jiricek and Mateychuk should be eating up NHL minutes the way Mintyukov and Zellweger are in Anaheim.

Mateychuk, yeah.

 

[martygod12]

Mateychuk, yeah.

Meaning?

 

[Czechboy]

We can all agree on one thing, the best solution is to trade him at this point.

Might not be the best for him, might not be the best for the team, but I find it entertaining to think about him on my team so it's best for me.

If you are an Oiler fan than I agree.lol

 

[57special]

Would be tough to get rid of a top pick this early, but maybe the new management doesn't see any there, there. It's easier to dump a guy who was picked by the previous management.

 

[stevo61]

Would be tough to get rid of a top pick this early, but maybe the new management doesn't see any there, there. It's easier to dump a guy who was picked by the previous management.

Just as devastating to get it wrong though

 

[Jovavic]

Just as devastating to get it wrong though

I've always thought the chance of him hitting his potential was extremely low, better to move on from him while some sucker GM thinks he has value, otherwise it'll be the Filatov and Mason returns all over again, holding onto the asset for too long, hoping he blooms into a star when it's obvious he won't

 

[stevo61]

I've always thought the chance of him hitting his potential was extremely low, better to move on from him while some sucker GM thinks he has value, otherwise it'll be the Filatov and Mason returns all over again, holding onto the asset for too long, hoping he blooms into a star when it's obvious he won't

I've been on the otherside but it doesn't really change what I said. If you trade him and he reaches his potential it would be a disaster whether you drafted him or not

 

[Fixed to Ruin]

Feels like he should go to Buffalo. They are weak on the right side and the Sabres have a plethora of young forwards that could easily integrate into the Blue Jackets lineup.

 

[PanniniClaus]

What is it that is not allowing him to play on a right side with Fabbro (unplayable in Nashville) Severson (he's a lock) and Harris - serviceable with not even a fraction of the upside. What is not there in his game?

 

[stevo61]

What is it that is not allowing him to play on a right side with Fabbro (unplayable in Nashville) Severson (he's a lock) and Harris - serviceable with not even a fraction of the upside. What is not there in his game?

Legs. A common theme in the thread

 

[MoneyManny]

I've been on the otherside but it doesn't really change what I said. If you trade him and he reaches his potential it would be a disaster whether you drafted him or not

It's risky because nobody wants to waste lottery picks, but at the same time the CBJ staff should know more about what they have with Jiricek than anybody else.

The Bolts got Sergachev for Drouin in a kind of similar situation.

 

[PanniniClaus]

Legs. A common theme in the thread

I don't see much different in his skating to a guy like Parayko. Unless he's battling an issue.

 

[stevo61]

I don't see much different in his skating to a guy like Parayko. Unless he's battling an issue.

Maybe you should watch them more. He's choppy without a lot of jump but most unlike Parayko he's just simply not strong on his skates. Major or someone can get down to the finer details if they care but it's pretty blatant for all to see.

Like I've said countless times here and on our board, he makes strong aggressive reads and I like his mind for the game but he gets himself in trouble because his mind and feet operate at 2 different speeds

 

[stevo61]

It's risky because nobody wants to waste lottery picks, but at the same time the CBJ staff should know more about what they have with Jiricek than anybody else.

The Bolts got Sergachev for Drouin in a kind of similar situation.

I can literally use that exact trade in the opposite direction. The Canadiens gave up Sergachev too soon and paid the price for it