Wild recall defenseman David Jiricek

David Jiricek could be nearing his debut with the Minnesota Wild following his recall from the AHL on Wednesday.

Acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets in a late November deal that saw the Wild part with five pieces including blue-liner Daemon Hunt as well as the club’s 2025 first rounder, Jiricek has since been competing with the AHL’s Iowa Wild, where through 11 appearances he has recorded two assists and 11 penalty minutes.

Originally chosen sixth overall by Columbus in the 2022 NHL Draft, Jiricek made 53 appearances with the Blue Jackets over three seasons in which he tallied 11 points counting one goal and 10 assists. That stretch includes Jiricek’s six-game showing with Columbus earlier this season where he finished with one assist and a minus-two rating. To note, Jiricek was also recalled by the Wild in early December but was scratched for all three games during his time on the NHL roster.

The highly touted young rearguard arrived in Minnesota seeking added opportunity after spending much of his playing time in Ohio with the Cleveland Monsters, the Blue Jackets’ top minor-league affiliate. In 88 career games with the Monsters, Jiricek notched 15 goals and 45 assists for 60 points, underscored by the 2022-23 campaign that saw him collect 38 points counting six goals and 32 assists in 55 games. Jiricek also scored twice and added an assist through four games with Cleveland earlier this season.

Per PuckPedia, Jiricek is in the second year of a three-year pact that carries a $918,333 annual average value.

In entering the Wild’s lineup, Jiricek joins a squad that continues to challenge for top spot in the Central Division, standing 26-11-4 on the season and two points shy of the Winnipeg Jets. Minnesota is also in the midst of a four-game win streak and will look to make it five in a row when the club retakes the ice Thursday against the Colorado Avalanche.