21-year-old defenseman David Jiricek is on the verge of being traded to the Minnesota Wild by the Columbus Blue Jackets, tipster Pierre LeBrun has learned.
Jiricek would head to Minnesota with a fifth-round pick, in exchange for a 2025 first-round pick, a 2027 second-round pick, a 2026 third-round pick, a fourth-round pick as well as Daemon Hunt.
The 2022 first-round pick, sixth overall, has been making headlines in recent days due to the possibility of him being traded by Columbus and now it’s a done deal.
Jiricek is in his third professional season in North America and has not been able to secure a permanent position with the Blue Jackets. After being limited to one assist in six games to start the season, Jiricek was sent to the American League with the Cleveland Monsters, where he had two goals and one assist in four games.
He will therefore join a talented core of promising young defenders in Minnesota, where Brock Faber and prospect Zeev Buium already find themselves.
Last season, Jiricek split his time between the NHL and AHL. He had one goal and nine assists in 43 games with the Jackets, in addition to seven goals and 19 points in 29 AHL outings.
A native of the Czech Republic, Jiricek was the second defender in his auction to be selected, after Simon Nemec in second place.
For his part, Hunt is a 22-year-old defenseman who was selected in the third round of the 2020 draft. He has only obtained one assist in 13 games in the Bettman circuit so far.
This season, Hunt played in nine games with the AHL’s Iowa Wild, recording four assists.
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