The David Jiricek Trade Feels Risky For Both Sides

The David Jiricek Trade Feels Risky For Both Sides

Over the weekend, the Minnesota Wild acquired young defenseman David Jiricek from the Columbus Blue Jackets for an array of draft picks. I thought about doing a trade grades post for this one but I can’t truly pick a winner. This deal really feels like the ultimate Chinese Farmer moment with inherit risk on both sides.

For the Wild, this trade makes total sense. Jiricek, 21, was the 6th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft. That really isn’t that long ago. We haven’t seen close to what is to come for the 6-foot-4 blue liner. At the same token, we really don’t have evidence that Jiricek is 100% going to turn into a stud.

Shout out to the wonderful team over at Elite Prospects who put together a really excellent write-up about what Jiricek brings to the table (and if you haven’t figured out by now a deal is looming with the brand I just mentioned… you played yourself).

With that said, I’m not sure you can totally ignore these red flags…

VIA ELITE PROSPECTS:

“A weakness even in his draft year, Jiříček’s skating hasn’t improved over the past few seasons. While he can speed up the ice to catch up to the play, his upright stride reduces his balance and acceleration out of turns. His pivots lack fluidity. At lower speeds, Jiříček needs two or three steps to shift from backward to forward. Shifty attackers can beat him wide with an inside/outside move. The defenceman’s tendency to pinch on the opposition, gambling for a clean steal, only further exposes his mobility. If he misses, he cannot recover.”

“His decision-making with the puck and defensive awareness have been equally problematic.”

Long story short; the Wild better be right in their evaluation. Minnesota gave up a first-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, third-and-fourth-round picks in the 2026 NHL Draft, and a second-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft. Yes, those four draft picks along with defenseman Daemon Hunt. That’s a bounty of picks and if Jiricek turns into just an okay player, this is an overpay.

At the same token, Wild fans should take comfort in knowing that Bill Guerin clearly has a track record of getting these evaluations right. Minnesota found themselves in a tricky spot with Kevin Fiala once upon a time and Guerin turned him into Brock Faber plus more. Guerin deserves a ton of credit for that move. Zeev Buium looks like a stud in the making too. If Jiricek lives up to his potential, this future blue line in Minnesota sure looks lethal.

On the Blue Jackets side, you have to be very careful about making trades like this. When you turn into the team that trades young talent because they don’t want to be there, often times you become a minor league team within a major league environment. Who wants to play for Columbus right now? It’s where players go to die. Do you really want to be known as the team who picks high in the draft every year only to watch those players thrive with other teams?

By the way, Minnesota should be good this year. What is the chance that you find a player as good as Jiricek in the 20’s? Probably slim. Columbus had a deal done for Martin Necas and he didn’t want to play there. No Jiricek wanted out because he viewed himself as better than an AHL player, even at 21. You’re swimming in dangerous waters.

It’s why the Sabres are the Sabres.

Pick Jack Eichel.

Trade Jack Eichel.

Watch Jack Eichel win a Cup.

Watch your team continue to miss the playoffs.

It’s a vicious cycle and one the Blue Jackets feel very much part of.

So who won the trade? Only the Chinese Farmer knows.

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