David Jiricekthe sixth overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, was also a popular choice for his size, skating and offensive instincts as a defenseman.
Drafted by the Blue Jackets, he was considered the future of their blue line, but things changed quickly. Although he has shown his potential in the American League with solid production, Jiricek has reportedly seen his name circulating on the trade market recently.
This surprising development is due to the depth of Columbus’ organization on defense and its desire to address the team’s immediate needs, potentially in the forward group.
While the transfer of such a promising prospect at such an early stage of his career raises eyebrows, it also highlights the NHL’s growing trend of exploiting young assets to accelerate the team’s progression.
Teams across the league are likely to show strong interest in Jiricek, but according to reports from Jim Biringer of RG.org there would be two who have a head start. The Oilers and the Predators!
The player that always gets mentioned in trade discussions is David Jiricek. According to a source close to Columbus, he will eventually be traded. It appears Columbus assigned him to the AHL to cover his needs and give him the right environment to realize his true potential.
– Jim Biringer
So the reasoning behind his demotion in the AHL would be to make him play as much as possible and make him work on his defensive game and thus increase his visibility.
“If you look at teams that want to improve their defense, the Edmonton Oilers and Nashville Predators are potential landing spots,” the source told RG. “Both teams are interested in him, especially Edmonton, who is looking to replace Philip Broberg in their top 4.”
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