Article: What Could David Jiricek Bring To Minnesota?

[Protec]

Mnfan and I never agreed on Laine. That's alright, I think there's value in guys who can shoot the puck and offensive defenseman. 

I'm apprehensive about players with injury and attitude issues. It took Dubois how many organizations to be okay? Druuin and Laine had to quit hockey for a period to return to the NHL. Eichel had to burn 5-6 years in Buffalo before being kicked out of town. There's talented players like Duchene or Gauthier who have tried to force a GM's hand. Sometimes successfully but is it fair to lump Jiricek in? 

I don't know, but I know the internal players and what the Wild need. A replacement for Spurgeon with a right shot is a need coming up. If Yurov, Heidt, Knudi, RasmuKampu, and Stramel are all centers along with Rossi, it's fair to suggest trading for a young defenseman who fits the mold management envisioned. I'm not personally sold on Jiricek. Will he be satisfied paying dues in IA for two years til he's closer to Chisholm's age? 

We had Soucy outta the late rounds and lost him. We picked up Chisholm from the scrap-pile as a bonus-find. So despite an expansion draft the Wild have backfilled nicely after losing most of their defense core from pre-buyout times. 

I'm satisfied currently to a point where I don't wanna see the Wild give up much for a Jiricek. I know GMBG could afford it, I just wanna be certain it's the right guy. Jiricek is 20 so that's a catch 222. He's got potential but will he be ready now or stay content to develop? It's not one I'd love to see. It is an important piece, a top 4 RD. 

I often get weirded out by what random guys Guerin likes or doesn't. He's been right plenty so that's good but there's glaring inconsistencies when NoJo or Rossi come up. If they like Jiricek, great I guess. I'll believe it when I see it. My gut says it's not the missing link to make MN a Cup contender in this season or next. That may not be the goal but I'm not convinced injuries or attitude issues evaporate altogether? There's examples of top 10 picks fizzling-out every draft almost. I'd like to see steady, quiet results. -10 and 50 games for a 20yo on a bad team isn't unforgivable or worthless but if he's not a pain in the ass, why does CBJ wanna make a 6th overall guy available? The agent trying to force a trade? It's just not ideal in my opinion. 

[Enforceror]

1 hour ago, Protec said:

Mnfan and I never agreed on Laine. That's alright, I think there's value in guys who can shoot the puck and offensive defenseman. 

I'm apprehensive about players with injury and attitude issues. It took Dubois how many organizations to be okay? Druuin and Laine had to quit hockey for a period to return to the NHL. Eichel had to burn 5-6 years in Buffalo before being kicked out of town. There's talented players like Duchene or Gauthier who have tried to force a GM's hand. Sometimes successfully but is it fair to lump Jiricek in? 

I don't know, but I know the internal players and what the Wild need. A replacement for Spurgeon with a right shot is a need coming up. If Yurov, Heidt, Knudi, RasmuKampu, and Stramel are all centers along with Rossi, it's fair to suggest trading for a young defenseman who fits the mold management envisioned. I'm not personally sold on Jiricek. Will he be satisfied paying dues in IA for two years til he's closer to Chisholm's age? 

We had Soucy outta the late rounds and lost him. We picked up Chisholm from the scrap-pile as a bonus-find. So despite an expansion draft the Wild have backfilled nicely after losing most of their defense core from pre-buyout times. 

I'm satisfied currently to a point where I don't wanna see the Wild give up much for a Jiricek. I know GMBG could afford it, I just wanna be certain it's the right guy. Jiricek is 20 so that's a catch 222. He's got potential but will he be ready now or stay content to develop? It's not one I'd love to see. It is an important piece, a top 4 RD. 

I often get weirded out by what random guys Guerin likes or doesn't. He's been right plenty so that's good but there's glaring inconsistencies when NoJo or Rossi come up. If they like Jiricek, great I guess. I'll believe it when I see it. My gut says it's not the missing link to make MN a Cup contender in this season or next. That may not be the goal but I'm not convinced injuries or attitude issues evaporate altogether? There's examples of top 10 picks fizzling-out every draft almost. I'd like to see steady, quiet results. -10 and 50 games for a 20yo on a bad team isn't unforgivable or worthless but if he's not a pain in the ass, why does CBJ wanna make a 6th overall guy available? The agent trying to force a trade? It's just not ideal in my opinion. 

I'll add to this. How well have our prospects developed in Iowa? Even if Jiricek is willing to spend a couple years in the A, what are the chances we're able to continue his development into a top D man. 

[Protec]

2 minutes ago, Enforceror said:

I'll add to this. How well have our prospects developed in Iowa? Even if Jiricek is willing to spend a couple years in the A, what are the chances we're able to continue his development into a top D man. 

Fair questions here. If Brackett and Guerin have had luck with older acquisitions like Chisholm and the ratio of drafted defenders to make the NHL is lower maybe they're looking at the Faber model or a similar case with Jiricek. He's got size and at 6'4" can shoot hard. That's a long reach. 

I've been doing my research. Here's a fresh article to add into the discussion. I think the Wild have been doing well enough, I would prefer a conservative approach. At the same time if MN traded a 1st and a prospect. They can afford it now and have a high likelihood they'll draft in the 20's or after this season. 

https://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/we_now_know_what_kent_hughes_must_offer_the_blue_jackets_to_acquire_david_jiricek/s1_17452_41315061

[mnfaninnc]

14 hours ago, Protec said:

My gut says it's not the missing link to make MN a Cup contender in this season or next. That may not be the goal but I'm not convinced injuries or attitude issues evaporate altogether?

Why is he available? Because he asked for a trade. He wants out. What is the attitude all about? Apparently he was told he was staying in Columbus, and then was demoted to Cleveland. I think he believes he was wronged, and it has soured him on CBJ. 

I think wherever Jiricek is traded, he's going to be starting on their A team. That new team will want to assess and see where his game truly is. I think if you're straight forward with him, he'll comply, I don't think it's about being too good for the A, I think it's more about actions not meeting promises. They may have had a similar problem with Kent Johnson too. 

CBJ is definitely under new management, but it appears that Waddell has had to really work hard to undo some things that have happened there. So, why can't we take advantage of an organization struggling with its players?

[mnfaninnc]

12 hours ago, Protec said:

At the same time if MN traded a 1st and a prospect. They can afford it now and have a high likelihood they'll draft in the 20's or after this season. 

I don't know what Shooter is offering, but I'm thinking it is more the prospects than the picks. Thinning out some of the prospects is likely a good idea. A hot prospect like Heidt might bring home a defender like Jiricek. Jiricek fits into the age group that Guerin is trying to build. He's in the same draft year of Yurov, Ohgren and surprisingly Spacek.(who we took as an overager)

We've invested pretty heavily in the 2020-2022 age group, and Jiricek is another prospect from this group. If I were Shooter, this is exactly the type of prospect I'd want to acquire. 

[1Brotherbill]

The Wild can't trade Rossi until the season is over.  Right now he is one of the players who is scoring.  Doubt anyone else on the team is going to wake up and score more than him.  So, we are kind of stuck.  

But two prospects for Jiricek would be do able in my book.  One forward and one defenseman.  Ohgren or Haight and Hunt or Lambos.  Would we miss any of those four?  Hunt because we need him to fill in when Brodin/Spurgeon get hurt for 20 games a year.  But that would be exactly what Jiricek would fill.  Ohgren might be great might not, we don't know.  Same thing with Haight, could be good but might not.  

Wallstedt is out for two reasons.  One he isn't playing well.  Two Columbus has a decent goalie and backup.  

Yurov and Heidt are considered the brightest bulbs in the prospect pool.  Kumpulainen seems to be a brightening bulb in the prospect pool.  With those three in the mix it is easy to say that The Wild could trade Rossi and not miss a beat on the trade.  But no matter how bright the future is for these three they are not going to outshine Rossi this year.  

Do we think we are going to win the Stanley Cup with this roster.  I don't know.  Gus is playing well enough to ride him to a Cup win.  Kirill is scoring enough 5 on 5 to maybe win a Cup.  But if this team doesn't have Rossi on it there is no chance they win a Cup.  However, trading Rossi for Jiricek before the end of the season might put the franchise in a better position going forward.