Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that the Minnesota Wild are finalizing a commerce with the Columbus Blue Jackets that might carry defensive prospect David Jiříček to the “State of Hockey.” Shortly after, Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff reported the Wild are receiving Columbus’ 2025 fifth-round choose and Minnesota is sending defenseman Daemon Hunt, a 2025 first-round choose, a 2027 second-round choose and a 2027 fourth-round choose to Columbus.
It’s been a very long time coming for the previous sixth total choose of the 2022 NHL Draft. Jiříček will be part of the second group of his very younger profession after a number of inconsistent years with the Blue Jackets. After scoring 5 targets and 11 factors in 29 video games for Czechia’s HC Plzeň, Jiříček was ranked because the fourth-best European skater and second-best defenseman by NHL Central Scouting earlier than the 2022 NHL Draft.
Jiříček instantly got here to the Blue Jackets group upon being drafted, suiting up in 55 video games for the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters. He impressed with six targets and 38 factors in his rookie marketing campaign within the AHL however sadly missed out on the league’s All-Rookie Crew. Arguably Jiříček’s most spectacular efficiency of the season got here in the course of the 12 months throughout the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship.
He scored three targets and 7 factors in seven video games for Crew Czechia whereas posting a +10 score all through the event. He was voted one of the best defenseman by the directorate and helped information Czechia to the nation’s first silver medal since 1985 after they shared a rustic with Slovakia.
Jiříček managed to debut within the NHL within the 2022-23 season however went scoreless over a short four-game stretch. The next season allowed Jiříček his largest alternative to make an affect with the Blue Jackets.
He scored one objective and 10 factors over 43 video games in Columbus final 12 months. The group stored him extremely sheltered because the younger defenseman solely averaged 14:36 of ice time per sport. Nonetheless, he confirmed flashes of being an elite two-way defenseman with a 92.4% on-ice save share in all conditions which was particularly good contemplating the Blue Jackets completed thirty first within the NHL in goals-against per sport.
Nonetheless, rare demotions and recollects by Columbus all through the common season prohibited Jiříček from gaining any traction for the Blue Jackets or Monsters. He completed the 2023-24 AHL season with seven targets and 19 assists in 29 video games for Cleveland with one other three targets and 11 factors in 14 postseason contests.
The start of the 2024-25 season probably put the nail within the coffin for Jiříček’s future in Columbus. He cracked the staff’s roster out of coaching camp however was hardly utilized by new head coach Dean Evason. He solely suited up in six of the Blue Jackets’ first 18 video games earlier than being reassigned to the AHL on Nov. 20. His common ice time slipped even additional with Jiříček solely averaging 11:12 of ice time.
Jiříček will now be part of a Minnesota protection that tasks to be among the best within the league in a couple of years. The group already deploys defensemen Brock Faber and Jared Spurgeon on the appropriate aspect of the protection. Issues look equally spectacular on the left aspect of the blue line with Jonas Brodin and up to date draft choose Zeev Buium additionally projected in long-term roles.
The Wild’s already strong protection has helped them to a 15-4-4 file to start out the 2024-25 NHL season making this 12 months’s first-round choose expendable. The inclusion of a first-round choose was probably a naked minimal for the Blue Jackets group regardless of this one probably falling exterior of the lottery.
The opposite two draft picks heading to Columbus give the group 10 for the 2027 NHL Draft. Columbus acquired a 2027 third-round choose from the Boston Bruins ultimately 12 months’s commerce deadline for defenseman Andrew Peeke.
Hunt, reportedly the ultimate a part of the deal, is in an identical scenario, albeit a decrease profile, to that of Jiříček. He’ll be conversant in Evason after having performed a handful of video games for him final season however didn’t have any professional pathway to the NHL in Minnesota. He had been having fun with a quietly productive season with the AHL’s Iowa Wild tallying 4 assists in 9 video games.
