Not every high-end pick works out with their team. That seems to be what’s happening with the Columbus Blue Jackets and 2022 sixth-overall pick David Jiricek. Jiricek’s name has been circulating in trade rumours for around a year now. A rift between the Blue Jackets and Jiricek became clear and now a trade is reportedly imminent according to Frank Seravalli.
The number of teams in on Jiricek seems to be (and should be) a good amount. It wouldn’t be surprising if the Flames were one of these teams. In the midst of a rebuild/retool, trading for young, promising players in need of a change of scenery is the way to go. Let’s take a look at what makes Jiricek so intriguing.
Jiricek’s career so far
Jiricek started his career in his home country of Czechia. Playing for HC Plzen, Jiricek made his way up the organization’s ranks, starting all the way back when he was 14.
Pre-draft play
Through all the levels he played at, Jiricek always brought promise with his frame and two-way play. By the time his draft year came, he was on the HC Plzen’s pro team. He had also grown to a 6’3″ 200lbs+ frame. He showed promise with his five goals and 11 points in 29 games against men. Additionally, he had four points in seven games at the 2022 World Juniors where he was Czechia’s best defenceman.
Being heralded for his steady play and frame, Jiricek was a high-end prospect for lots of people talking draft. His size, ability to skate, read the defensive side well, and generate offence all made him intriguing. It was enough to make some even rank him as high as third overall on their draft boards.
After the draft
When draft night came, Jiricek became a member of the Columbus Blue Jackets inside the top 10 at sixth overall. He was set to become their number one defenceman someday. Following into the season, Jiricek did not make the Blue Jackets opening night roster for the 2022–23 season. However, he’d make his debut just a couple of weeks later against the Boston Bruins.
He’d get one more game against the New Jersey Devils before being sent down to the AHL with the Cleveland Monsters. That’s where he’d call home for the majority of the remaining year. Overall, he produced six goals and 38 points in 55 games for the Monsters while showing the talent he was drafted for. At the end of the year, he was recalled for another two-game stint in the NHL and still did not produce a point.
Once again in the 2023–24 season, Jiricek did not make the opening night roster but that was okay because he was recalled after one game. In what was the second game of the season for the Blue Jackets, Jiricek scored his first NHL goal against the New York Rangers. This goal would create a stride for Jiricek as he would keep a spot on the Blue Jackets for the coming months. He’d produce nine points total in 36 games. Then he was sent back down to the AHL on January 9, 2024. His next three months would be spent in Cleveland with the Monsters.
Unhappy usage
This is where I remember most of the controversy surrounding Jiricek starting. He publicly voiced his disregard for being sent down. Seven goals and 19 points in 29 games is the production that Jiricek saw during his time in the AHL, another step forward for last season. He’d then end his regular season with a seven-game stint in NHL where he’d score one point. The Monsters made the playoffs, so Jiricek went back down and was one of their best players putting up 11 points in their 14 playoff games.
Then comes this season. Finally, Jiricek has made the opening night roster after an offseason full of a handful of trade rumours. Despite this, Jiricek didn’t make his season debut until the fifth game of the year which was a 3–1 loss to the Minnesota Wild with himself picking up an assist on Columbus’ lone goal. This earned him a spot in the lineup for a consecutive game where the Blue Jackets beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 6–2, however, Jiricek went pointless.
He then sat for 10 days and four games before filling back in against the Washington Capitals. Despite the brutal loss, Jiricek held in for two more games but saw under 10 minutes of ice time. He was then scratched again for another nine days and four games. November 16 was when general manager of the Blue Jackets, Don Waddell, said a decision on Jiricek would be made soon. One more game was given to him on November 18 against the Boston Bruins, once again seeing under 10 minutes of ice. Then two days later, we saw the decision and it was to reassign him to the AHL. Jiricek picked up two points in his two games with the Monsters. He currently still sits with the Monsters but it doesn’t seem for long.
Being fed up with not being given a full-time chance in the NHL and constant reassignments, Jiricek is to be traded soon to a new home.
An analytical breakdown on Jiricek
Let’s just have a quick look at Jiricek’s isolated impact charts throughout the years via HockeyViz.com.
Unfortunately, this doesn’t paint that pretty of a picture for Jiricek. His four games in 2022–23 saw him put up some solid defensive results reflected by the -1.8% xGA but apparently he had abysmal results on offence. I don’t think that’s fully true because these charts tend to overplay how bad players are in small sample sizes.
Then we move on to 2023–24 where he played over half the season. His offensive results obviously improved with a big sample but still, they were not good. Defensively, he dropped to about league average. 2024–25 doesn’t see much change with his minimal six games. His offence did improve by +1.4% and his defence stayed about the same which is a good sign but also a small sample. Overall, Jiricek hasn’t had the most promising results when it comes to analytics. Not the end all at all but for sure something to keep in mind.
How would Jiricek fit with the Flames?
So with his career run down out of the way, how would David Jiricek fit in with the Flames roster and future? Being in the state that the Flames are currently in, it never hurts to acquire young promising pieces and Jiricek would sure be that. He would add to an already solid pool of defenders in the Flames organization. He wouldn’t be a cheap cost but I feel like the Flames could do it comfortably.
Now the Flames have plenty of already or projecting to be good right-handed defencemen in their cupboard. The roster currently has MacKenzie Weegar and Rasmus Andersson. While Weegar primarily plays the left side, I’ll still include him. Both are good top pair defencemen for their own skill sets. Weegar for his two-way play and ability to pick up points while being pretty great defensively. Then the offensive flair and skill that Andersson brings to the table.
Prospect comparisons
When you get deeper into the system, you’ll find prospects such as Zayne Parekh, Hunter Brzustewicz, and Henry Mews. Parekh led the OHL in defencemen scoring last season with his 33 goals and 96 points in 66 games with the Memorial Cup winning, Saginaw Spirit. This led him to being drafted ninth overall by the Flames and becoming their top prospect. He started off a bit slow this season but has certainly picked up the pace and sits at eight goals and 29 points in 20 games which places him third in defencemen scoring.
Right behind him in points in 2023–24 was Hunter Brzustewicz who was acquired by the Flames in the Elias Lindholm trade. On a very good Kitchener Rangers team, Brzustewicz racked up 92 points in 67 games while quarterbacking their power play. This season, Brzustewicz has had his fair share of struggles adapting to the pro game with only two points in his first 18 AHL games. Then behind Parekh this season is another 2024 Flames draft pick in Henry Mews. Mews has taken a step in production and his game this season with 27 points in 22 games, scoring at a higher pace than the prior season.
So if the Flames seem already set in the right-handed defenceman department, why add Jiricek? Well, the rich can always get richer, but he would also give a completely different dynamic that most of these guys bring. With those who primarily play the right in Andersson, Parekh, Brzustewicz, and Mews: they’re all offensive-minded defencemen with some dynamic skill.
A unique skill set
Jiricek definitely has his fair share of offensive skill and his own dynamics, but he’s more two-way-minded. As mentioned earlier, the draw to him was his bigger frame while being able to move around swiftly and view the game at a high level. If he develops properly, he’ll do everything steadily. He’ll be able to shoot, pass, play defence, etc.
All four of the Flames defenceman sit at 6’0″ or 6’1″ and don’t pose much physically except for Andersson. Jiricek is the opposite while possibly bringing good tools. His 6’4″ frame is staggering and already has a solid physical game. Having all of your right-side defencemen be offensively minded limits the flexibility of your lineup. Most left-side guys will have to be more defensive if those on the right don’t develop a defensive game. I feel as if with a player like Jiricek, you wouldn’t have to worry about that.
Strong potential to be effective
I think Jiricek at worst projects out to be a good #4 defenceman and at best a great top pair two-way defenceman. Even if he were to become his worst projection, his more defensive-leaning style would complement the more offensive-minded guys that the Flames hope to have on their blueline one day.
If he were to find his stride in new scenery and reach his potential, the Flames would be looking at a player who could put up 40–60 points a year while being good both ways. Add in the potential Parekh holds of becoming one of the best offensive threats on the blueline, and the Flames would have one of the best one-two punches on the right side. The skillset Jiricek can possibly bring would be worth it alone. He’d bring something new and needed to this current and future Flames group.
Another thing that I feel makes the Flames a good fit is the bareness they currently have on their roster on the right side. I don’t think there would be a problem possibly sticking in Jiricek over Daniil Miromanov or Brayden Pachal.
How does Jiricek seem as a trade target for the Flames?
I think David Jiricek serves a very good target for the Flames. He’s got the potential to be elite and his floor still seems pretty high. His two-way style of play with a big frame makes him intriguing to the eye. Size doesn’t hold his skating back and draws in to help in other areas such as his shot. This style would complement the already offensive-minded right side that the Flames are projecting to have in the future. Not only that, but the Flames’ current weaker right side could promise Jiricek with the NHL ice he wants. With the Flames having two firsts in this year’s draft, I think they could comfortably throw one to the Blue Jackets alongside the other pieces it would take to land Jiricek.
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