What’s next on the trade front for David Jiricek, Blue Jackets?
With December on the horizon, trade talks are beginning to heat up around the NHL, with a young defenseman’s name hopping up on a few trade boards.
The Columbus Blue Jackets have David Jiricek in their system. The Czechia native was taken with the sixth overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, and while he has shown glimpses of being a top blueliner, overall things have not quite been working out as quickly as some expected from Jiricek, with some thinking a new team might suit him well.
Jiricek had played just six games with the Blue Jackets before being sent down to their American Hockey League affiliate, the Cleveland Monsters. During his brief time in the lineup with CBJ, the 20-year-old posted one assist, registering a plus/minus of -2, while averaging 11:12 of ice time, down from the 14:36 he was averaging during the 2023-24 season.
In 53 NHL appearances over the last three years, Jiricek has scored one goal and 11 points, with a -10 rating.
On Tuesday’s edition of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Frank Seravalli and Tyler Yaremchuk discuss what could be next for Jiricek and the Blue Jackets.
Tyler Yaremchuk: How close are we to a resolution in the David Jiricek situation?
Frank Seravalli: I think relatively close is what I would call it. I think there was certainly an increase in tension paid to David Jiricek yesterday in front offices based on the ones I corresponded with. The best way I can frame up this situation right now is that I believe Columbus Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell has five to six concrete offers on the table that he’s evaluating. I think they were relatively close to a deal at some point over the weekend. I think they had made significant progress on Monday to the point where some thought the deal might get done or might be nearing the finish line.
I know with a young player of this stature, Don Waddell and his staff want to make sure that they are not leaving any stones unturned around the league. It has been an interesting process because there’s a number of teams that have wanted to get in the mix that…either haven’t received a callback or have been politely told, “Hey, we don’t see this as a fit…” So, what is it exactly the Columbus Blue Jackets are looking for? It’s a player of similar stature. A young, top-end pick or prospect, or potentially a package of players that the Columbus Blue Jackets and their fanbase can get excited about.
Right now, it seems like a matter of when, and not if, Jiricek is gonna be on the move, but what are the teams that we’re talking about that have been in the mix…There seems to be lots of thought that the Minnesota Wild are frontrunners…I think the Philadelphia Flyers have been involved. I think, at varying points, the Pittsburgh Penguins have as well…those are the three teams I would circle around. I don’t think you can count out the San Jose Sharks, or potentially the Buffalo Sabres. I think there’s been a whole group of teams that have been right there in the mix.
You can watch the full segment and the entire episode here…