Article: What Is the Opportunity Cost Of Trading For David Jiříček?

[Tony Abbott]

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[TCMooch]

I'm not high on Jiricek at all. I think if you take away where he was drafted nobody would really care about him at all (which I've stated in the past). He is a dime-a-dozen bottom d-pairing that is easily replaceable. The Wild got absolutely fleeced in this trade so good on CBJ for getting a lot of swings in the next couple of drafts for basically nothing.

[Imyourhuckleberry]

25 minutes ago, TCMooch said:

I'm not high on Jiricek at all. I think if you take away where he was drafted nobody would really care about him at all (which I've stated in the past). He is a dime-a-dozen bottom d-pairing that is easily replaceable. The Wild got absolutely fleeced in this trade so good on CBJ for getting a lot of swings in the next couple of drafts for basically nothing.

He's very playable on the 3rd pairing. He will almost certainly become a high end player for line 3 if that's where he's playing down the road, but he could be a 2nd pairing defenseman like Middleton. Jiricek will likely be worth more than the 20th pick from this draft, especially over the next 4 seasons.

3rd pairing defensemen generally still play a quarter of each game, so he could be worth more than a 3rd or 4th line forward even if he doesn't elevate beyond the 3rd pairing, but there are reasons to believe that he could.

[0 Stanley Cups]

D. Hunt (which ironically we needed due to injuries last year), a 2025 first-round, and say the 2027 second-round pick, but adding a 2026 third- and fourth-round pick in exchange for a 2025 fifth-round pick definitely seems excessive. 

As long as it works out in the end, I'm a fan of any team identifying someone they specifically want and doing what it takes to get them.  The strategy of 2025 being a weaker draft, and getting a potentially better & older prospect from 2022 is fine with me, the Wild have plenty of young prospects that will need additional time to develop.

[0 Stanley Cups]

Unfortunately, the cost we gave up definitely hindered our abilities this past year at the trade deadline.

[B1GKappa97]

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Are any of those players causing you to feel buyer's remorse on the Jiříček trade?

None at all. Especially when you consider it would likely take 3 or 4 seasons for us to even see them hit the NHL. Jiricek will be here next year or, at the latest, the year after. Full time. 

Its like we gave up the extra picks to get a guy with a shorter timeline to impact for us. I'm absolutely fine with that, personally.

If the goal is to become a Cup contender during Kaprizov's prime then Jiricek fits that window far more than any of these potential draft picks.

[Patrick]

Jiricek looked good when he played with the Wild last year.  If the Wild can improve his skating even a little I think the trade is worth it because his instincts, size, skill and attitude are all missing on the Wild right now. We are too risk averse and Jiricek doesn't mind going for it.

[Imyourhuckleberry]

26 minutes ago, 0 Stanley Cups said:

Unfortunately, the cost we gave up definitely hindered our abilities this past year at the trade deadline.

I think less than $2M in cap space hindered the Wild more than a lack of assets.

[Scalptrash]

35 minutes ago, 0 Stanley Cups said:

Unfortunately, the cost we gave up definitely hindered our abilities this past year at the trade deadline.

Then and now. Way too lopsided and it took the Wild out of several possibilities this offseason.

[MrCheatachu]

Quote

Are any of those players causing you to feel buyer's remorse on the Jiříček trade? That's up to you. But the field of players the Wild could have picked feels pretty identical to players in the Wild's system already.

WAIT.  HOLD THE FRICKING PHONES...you're telling me we could have had TWO Charlie Stramel's in our farm system?!

Someone grab the tar and feathers, we gots to nail SillyG over this one...

[FredJohnson]

None of these guys are +200 pounds so they’re all busts.

[FredJohnson]

4 hours ago, TCMooch said:

I'm not high on Jiricek at all. I think if you take away where he was drafted nobody would really care about him at all (which I've stated in the past). He is a dime-a-dozen bottom d-pairing that is easily replaceable. The Wild got absolutely fleeced in this trade so good on CBJ for getting a lot of swings in the next couple of drafts for basically nothing.

But he has the size to play in the playoffs!!

[Citizen Strife]

Buium and Jiricek both have opportunities to be better than what the Wild have had for bottom lineup guys for the past couple years.  What I saw from both last year were hungry guys who wanted to make an impression.  The team cannot rely on Bogo, Merrill, and.Chisholm as depth guys if they want to avoid the rough patches that happened when half of the D-corps was out last year.

It's a tall ask to be better than Brodin or Spurgeon.  What the Wild need are guys who can come in and be better than the Mermaid, Dermott, etc guys they have been using elsewhere.

[Citizen Strife]

Mermaid: Mermis

Autocorrect at it again

 

 

[Pablo]

Jiricek will get his minutes in the NHL and will make his doubters look silly. He is 3 years ahead of anyone that we would be drafting this year. Our D is absolutely stacked for years to come as we eventually replace the oft injured captain and teniel (brodien). 
Stramel may have a stellar year and then sign for a playoff run in may ‘26.  Draft pics are never wasted…. Just developed. 

[Imyourhuckleberry]

14 hours ago, Citizen Strife said:

Mermaid: Mermis

Autocorrect at it again

[mnfaninnc]

On 6/18/2025 at 11:48 AM, 0 Stanley Cups said:

Unfortunately, the cost we gave up definitely hindered our abilities this past year at the trade deadline.

I disagree, I think having no cap space was the biggest hindrance. 

[mnfaninnc]

From what I saw from Jiricek, he looks like more than a 3rd pairing guy. If you can help the skating, I think he's a high 2nd pairing guy. Faber can munch minutes as a top pairing, and then throw out Jiricek on the 2nd pair. 

I wouldn't mind seeing Spacek develop into that 3rd pairing guy, but the reports of his dad being unhappy might not allow that. 

Something to consider: All scouts exaggerate the talent of a draft class the closer they get to the draft. I'm with the earlier report, this is likely a down year. 

[Pewterschmidt]

28 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

From what I saw from Jiricek, he looks like more than a 3rd pairing guy. If you can help the skating, I think he's a high 2nd pairing guy. Faber can munch minutes as a top pairing, and then throw out Jiricek on the 2nd pair. 

I wouldn't mind seeing Spacek develop into that 3rd pairing guy, but the reports of his dad being unhappy might not allow that. 

Something to consider: All scouts exaggerate the talent of a draft class the closer they get to the draft. I'm with the earlier report, this is likely a down year. 

Small sample size aside, Jirizy's ceiling projects to be more Klingberg (not the Klingberg husk we saw, but peak Klinger) vs the smooth skating shut-down d-man like a Brodein.  But why P-bumper boat?  They are physically similar but also because Jirizy threw himself into situations (ie closing the gap, 45/55 puck battles) aggressively, not timidly/safely (see: Ogzy).  While this will require fans to watch more mistakes, it will accelerate Jirizy's development (assuming he has the discipline and maturity to learn from mistakes).  J-Coin commanded the premium he did for his offensive upside and Alpha D-man (ie Pronger) possibilities.  If he lanquishes in Iowa all season, begin to be concerned about the assets we gave up to get him.  

Re: SpaceX, I have to assume that he's not long for this place.  With his dad publicly calling out the organization I have to believe the family is done with the Wild.  And with thin skin bill being thin skinned, SpaceX has no future here.

[mnfaninnc]

8 hours ago, Pewterschmidt said:

While this will require fans to watch more mistakes, it will accelerate Jirizy's development (assuming he has the discipline and maturity to learn from mistakes). 

I'm thinking with a partner like Brodin who tends to read a play 1st defensively and have the wheels to cover, it would make a good tandem. I would stick Buium with Spurgeon, and even though they're both a little small, Buium isn't Goligoski small.

[TheGoosesAreLooses]

I like Jiricek, but I think if a player like Brady Martin could be had, even if we had to trade up, it would be worth it. He is guy that Guerin should love. only 6'1" but just absolute animal on the ice. Here is a scout's write up from EP;

Brady Martin has one gear and it’s the Destroy The World gear. His pace is unmatched at this level and he uses that build up in speed to end lives. His forechecking is so impressive as he forces defenders in vulnerable positions and then connects at the perfect time with ultimate force. He’s an absolute load to handle at the net front. A couple of noticeable plays saw him make a nice quick handle on downward defender’s pinch to beat him and exit the zone. Made a hard play on the wall while getting hit to spring Katzin for a partial break leading to Cootes’ goal. Scored the empty-netter. He plays with such incredible pace and tenacity. Kid’s a warrior. Cam Robinson: April 24th, 2025 - Canada U18 vs. Slovakia U18 - WJC-18

Right handed center with some skating issues, but still apparently a freight train.

[NoJoSux]

On 6/19/2025 at 12:57 PM, Pewterschmidt said:

Small sample size aside, Jirizy's ceiling projects to be more Klingberg (not the Klingberg husk we saw, but peak Klinger) vs the smooth skating shut-down d-man like a Brodein.  But why P-bumper boat?  They are physically similar but also because Jirizy threw himself into situations (ie closing the gap, 45/55 puck battles) aggressively, not timidly/safely (see: Ogzy).  While this will require fans to watch more mistakes, it will accelerate Jirizy's development (assuming he has the discipline and maturity to learn from mistakes).  J-Coin commanded the premium he did for his offensive upside and Alpha D-man (ie Pronger) possibilities.  If he lanquishes in Iowa all season, begin to be concerned about the assets we gave up to get him.  

Re: SpaceX, I have to assume that he's not long for this place.  With his dad publicly calling out the organization I have to believe the family is done with the Wild.  And with thin skin bill being thin skinned, SpaceX has no future here.

Spacek, if held back by the veteran presence in front of him will be traded. Chisholm too perhaps. I think Guerin is fair to guys, getting them a change of scenery so to speak. That, or he decides he's had enough of them. Either way, MN has some assets to move. This should be an interesting time to see what happens. Guerin and Brackett need to get some dividends finally.