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

[Czechboy]

At first glance it would seem like we expected more, but 20-21 yrs old defenders very rarely take NHL by storm and are stars right away. I admit in his D+1 year he looked like he can be that guy, so we all maybe let ourselves get the hype go too far in our heads with him. Now we learn that he will take a lot more time to turn into proper NHLer. As long as that happens in the future and he is not back in europe by the time he is 25 I am ok with that. Of course I am impatient and want him to suceed right now too, cause czech hockey desperately needs NHL defenders, but we just have to be patient it seems.

And as Czechboy said, Nemec and Korchinski who were drafted around him are also in AHL right now, he was drafted 6th and as for games played in NHL from the 22 draft class he is ranked 6th. So he is kinda exactly where he is expected to be. Sure Mintyukov and Hutson are killing it and are best Ds so far from this draft, but he is just there behind those two with Korchinski, Nemec etc.

I will say... And I'm high on Mintyukov. Nemec and jiricek are also on cup contending teams right now.

I do think jiricek is tailing them right now though. I don't think it ends that way but right now he's in some peril. I'm guessing he will go to AHL ... Be dominant.. get called back and not play or get 6 minutes. Seems like a cycle is growing. It's almost xmas.. he's not hurt and .not sure if he's played ten games.lol
.to Columbus credit... They gave him pair 2 with provorov. So they did give him a fair spot to start.

 

[hockey20000]

Curious what success is for a dman who just turned 21? I would think AHL all star is pretty good. Korchnski and Nemec are also in the AHL. Are they all failures right now?

didn't nemec play a season in the nhl ?

 

[thestonedkoala]

Sure Mintyukov and Hutson are killing it and are best Ds so far from this draft, but he is just there behind those two with Korchinski, Nemec etc.

Funny how that works out; Faber would be a top 5 pick right now and he was picked in the middle of the 2nd round. He was picked after; Sanderson, Drysdale, Guhle, Schneider, Mukhamadalin, Barron, Wallinder, Grans, O'Rourke, and Kleven and the only one I might consider better is Sanderson and that's a BIG if as well as Faber being a rightie.

 

[HeadLiceHatty]

Funny how that works out; Faber would be a top 5 pick right now and he was picked in the middle of the 2nd round. He was picked after; Sanderson, Drysdale, Guhle, Schneider, Mukhamadalin, Barron, Wallinder, Grans, O'Rourke, and Kleven and the only one I might consider better is Sanderson and that's a BIG if as well as Faber being a rightie.

Faber is a D-man that every team in the league would kill for too, just an awesome player.

 

[57special]

More than likely, Jiricek will be on the short list when they let Merrill walk and then Bogo retires (he has another year) and an even shorter list when they have an injury (Brodin, Spurgeon are good for an injury every season). I don't know what they'll do with Spacek.

I think one of the big reasons why Minnesota trade for Jiricek is that their defensemen, both in the AHL and developing, are pretty small. Bogo, Merrill and Middleton are their biggest and only Middleton is playing in the top 4. More so, I think Columbus fans have the wrong impression Minnesota sees Jiricek as some franchise altering defenseman that is top tier. They want to shore up their top 4 as they have Faber and Spurgeon for now, but could use a potential 3/4 in the future, especially with Buium coming in.

More so, Jiricek isn't the only player in recent years that have had issues with Columbus as well the rumors are that Trouba REALLY didn't want to go there. But Dubois and Laine both wanted out of Columbus. There is also the rumor that Merz was disgruntled but they seemed to have appeased him for now. So, there is something going on with Columbus. Maybe Waddell will change that, but we'll see.

I don't usually agree with your opinions, but i do in this post, with the exception of the last paragraph. I think BG is hoping that Jiricek will be a 2nd pairing RHD with size for MN in about 3-4 years from now. Faber clearly is the #1 RHD. I also think that Jiricek's offensive game, while nice, will not be as important to MN as his ability to use his size, and hopefully play decent defense. That will take a lot of work, i think.

With Faber and Buium, MN will have two guys who can man the PP in the far term.

The whole deal is a gamble. CBJ cashed out their chips on Jiricek, believing that he was a bad bet. BG bought in, because his D prospect pool besides Buium is mediocre, and smallish.

BTW, for my Czech brothers out there, Spacek has been pretty good in the AHL. Not great, but pretty good. Seems to be improving. I can see him starting to get NHL TOI as soon as next year, but more likely in 2-3.

 

[Czechboy]

didn't nemec play a season in the nhl ?

And now he's in the AHL full time.

 

[Czechboy]

I don't usually agree with your opinions, but i do in this post, with the exception of the last paragraph. I think BG is hoping that Jiricek will be a 2nd pairing RHD with size for MN in about 3-4 years from now. Faber clearly is the #1 RHD. I also think that Jiricek's offensive game, while nice, will not be as important to MN as his ability to use his size, and hopefully play decent defense. That will take a lot of work, i think.

With Faber and Buium, MN will have two guys who can man the PP in the far term.

The whole deal is a gamble. CBJ cashed out their chips on Jiricek, believing that he was a bad bet. BG bought in, because his D prospect pool besides Buium is mediocre, and smallish.

BTW, for my Czech brothers out there, Spacek has been pretty good in the AHL. Not great, but pretty good. Seems to be improving. I can see him starting to get NHL TOI as soon as next year, but more likely in 2-3.

I think if the plan is to have Jiricek defending and not running PP's when he is 25, then he is in the wrong spot for him and he will always disapoint. I don't mean today. I think Iowa is where he belongs. But his ceiling is a Top 2 PP and offensive type Dman. Similar to a Bouchard. Before Bouch got PP time in Edmonton (stuck behind Barrie) he wasn't that great. We did the same thing to Bro. Telling guys that are used to top minutes and opportunity to play 12 minutes a night on 5/6 and block shots and get puck up the ice for the next unit just exposes their weaknesses while ignoring their strengths. The second Barrie was traded, Bouch become a .ppg D. Second Bro got some minutes in St. Louis, he was immediately good. I'll use ASP here.. if he goes to Detroit next season and is playing on bottom pair defending all game, he won't look great either. It isn't his game.

As far as Spacek, that's great. He's a few years away and projects as a middle of the D type player... 3/4 and 5/6 at the end. No guarantee he makes it but man I love the kid! His dad was part of Nagano and I will always cheer hard. My best guess is today that he ends up traded or picked up on waivers when he no longer has waiver eligibility. Until Jiricek arrived I was hoping for a 'cup of coffee' this season after injuries. But, I didn't expect Minny to be this good and I didn't expect Jiricek to be the team.

 

[martygod12]

I think if the plan is to have Jiricek defending and not running PP's when he is 25, then he is in the wrong spot for him and he will always disapoint. I don't mean today. I think Iowa is where he belongs. But his ceiling is a Top 2 PP and offensive type Dman. Similar to a Bouchard. Before Bouch got PP time in Edmonton (stuck behind Barrie) he wasn't that great. We did the same thing to Bro. Telling guys that are used to top minutes and opportunity to play 12 minutes a night on 5/6 and block shots and get puck up the ice for the next unit just exposes their weaknesses while ignoring their strengths. The second Barrie was traded, Bouch become a .ppg D. Second Bro got some minutes in St. Louis, he was immediately good. I'll use ASP here.. if he goes to Detroit next season and is playing on bottom pair defending all game, he won't look great either. It isn't his game.

As far as Spacek, that's great. He's a few years away and projects as a middle of the D type player... 3/4 and 5/6 at the end. No guarantee he makes it but man I love the kid! His dad was part of Nagano and I will always cheer hard. My best guess is today that he ends up traded or picked up on waivers when he no longer has waiver eligibility. Until Jiricek arrived I was hoping for a 'cup of coffee' this season after injuries. But, I didn't expect Minny to be this good and I didn't expect Jiricek to be the team.

Totally agree, Jiricek is a PP guy, his offensive abilities and most importantly his shot is where he shines the most. If you not using him in PP on the blue line you are just using him wrong.

 

[57special]

Maybe Buium and Jiricek will both be on the MN #1PP in the future. Shame to relegate Faber to the #2PP, though.

 

[Czechboy]

Totally agree, Jiricek is a PP guy, his offensive abilities and most importantly his shot is where he shines the most. If you not using him in PP on the blue line you are just using him wrong.

And I don't mean gift him PP1. I get he has a lot of work to do. But that is what he is there for and that is the 'gift' he brings as a Top 6 pick. No one drafted him for his skating.lol

 

[Czechboy]

Guys that Jiricek couldn't beat out.. Jack Johnson and Dermot. As an Oiler fan I am thrilled Dermot was picked up. Minny is clearly leaving Jiricek in Iowa till the Calder Cup and playing the long game.

2 teams, 3 GMS and 2 coaches (maybe 3) that have now determined Jiricek needs work. Not much to bitch about anymore from me. Get to work David!

 

[Circulartheory]

Guys that Jiricek couldn't beat out.. Jack Johnson and Dermot. As an Oiler fan I am thrilled Dermot was picked up. Minny is clearly leaving Jiricek in Iowa till the Calder Cup and playing the long game.

2 teams, 3 GMS and 2 coaches (maybe 3) that have now determined Jiricek needs work. Not much to bitch about anymore from me. Get to work David!

Is Jiricek ambidextrous?

 

[MNRube]

He’s in Iowa to restore confidence and develop. Same as Wallstedt & Ohgren. No news here

 

[JiricekSaveUs]

Picked up a bit of an assist tonight. He’s really nice with the puck on his stick and have been impressed with his overall defensive play. However, there were a few gaffs if you will. He’ll get it figured out dout though.

 

[57special]

Picked up a bit of an assist tonight. He’s really nice with the puck on his stick and have been impressed with his overall defensive play. However, there were a few gaffs if you will. He’ll get it figured out dout though.

I am not so sure that the coaching staff in Iowa is as competent as the one in St. Paul in teaching defense. Hard to say what is the player's fault, and what is the coaching, but the D prospects in Iowa such as O'Rourke, Lambos, Peart are looking mediocre at best. Hope Jiricek doesn't get caught up in that. At least he has a fellow countryman in Spacek to hang out with.

I don't see a callup as long as Spurgeon, Faber, and Bogo stay healthy, and even if one goes down they might bring someone else up till they are satisfied that he can play a clean defensive game.