NFL News NFL News, Reports and Updates
Greg Wyshynski, ESPNNov 30, 2024, 06:19 PM ET
CloseGreg Wyshynski is ESPN’s senior NHL writer.
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman David Jiricek will get a fresh start with the Minnesota Wild, who acquired the 2022 6th overall pick for 22-year-old defenseman Daemon Hunt and draft picks on Saturday night.
The Wild sent Hunt, a first-round pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft (top five protected), a third-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft (previously acquired from Colorado), a fourth-round selection in the 2026 NHL Entry (previously acquired from Toronto) and second-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft to the Blue Jackets. Columbus also sent a fifth-round selection in the 2025 NHL Draft to the Wild along with Jiricek.
If Minnesota’s first-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft is one of the first five selections, the Wild will retain the pick and transfer its 2026 first-round selection to the Blue Jackets.
Jiricek, 21, was drafted from Plzen HC in the Czech Extraliga by former Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekäläinen. He was the second overall defenseman taken in the 2022 draft. Jiricek has a coveted skills set — 6-foot-4, righthanded shot with offensive upside — but has only played 53 games in the NHL since debuting the 2022-23 season.
While Jiricek believed he was ready for big minutes and responsibilities in the NHL, three different Blue Jackets coaches and two different front office regimes in Columbus felt he wasn’t ready yet, sending the defenseman back to AHL Cleveland for more experience.
Editor’s Picks
2 Related
The Wild had been interested in Jiricek dating back to last offseason. In trading their 2025 first-rounder, Minnesota GM Bill Guerin is banking on the Wild building on their blazing start (15-4-4) to make the draft pick a low first-rounder, where they wouldn’t get a chance to draft a prospect with Jiricek’s upside.
Hunt was an expendable part of the Wild’s considerable depth on defense — a group that includes last year’s Calder Trophy finalist Brock Faber, AHL…
Source link : https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/42703838/columbus-blue-jackets-deal-david-jiricek-minnesota-wild
Author : Greg Wyshynski
Publish date : 2024-11-30 23:22:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
