By Bekki Antonelli -
The Minnesota Wild’s injured and struggling defensive lineup is old news, but Bill Geurin and John Hynes learned from last season’s similar issues and planned ahead. David Jiricek is one contingency plan that has panned out.
Minnesota sent an extensive package to the Columbus Blue Jackets for the 6’4” Czech defenseman:
- Daemon Hunt
- A 2025 conditional first-round pick
- A third-round pick in the 2026 draft
- A fourth-round selection in the 2026 draft (previously acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs for Connor Dewar)
- And second-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft.
- The Wild also received a 2025 fifth-round draft pick.
Bill Guerin had his eye on the defenseman since Columbus took him 6th overall in 2022. Minnesota had the 19th draft pick that year and knew they were unlikely to get him. However, he pounced on the opportunity when the Blue Jackets made him available earlier this year.
Guerin has also expressed long-term plans for Jiricek. “He’s not a rental,” he said. “He’s a 21-year-old defenseman that we can invest in.”
To analyze Jiricek’s journey and success with the Wild, it’s important to consider what Minnesota gave up for him.
Minnesota took Hunt in the third round pick of the 2020 draft, but he had only played 1 game in the 2024-25 season before the trade. Last year, Hunt played 12 games in Minnesota and 51 for the Wild’s AHL affiliate in Iowa.
Hunt played well in Iowa, producing 29 points in 51 games. Despite showing promise, there wasn’t space for him in a lineup when Jake Middleton, Brock Faber, and Jared Spurgeon were healthy. Jiricek is a significantly better player than Hunt because of his skill but also due to timing.
Jiricek is a few steps ahead of Hunt developmentally, making it a logical trade. While losing a first-round pick feels risky, Jirciek was a top-10 pick three years ago. He’s also only 21, giving him plenty of time to grow. If the team already has young, competent players they’ve been able to develop, a couple of draft picks have less value.
The defenseman also lucked out because Minnesota’s injured list has only grown since November. Spurgeon and Brodin are out with no sign of immediate return, while Middleton and Faber are just returning to full strength post injuries. Middleton and Faber will continue to get 20+ minutes, but there’s less competition for ice time and more opportunities for Jiricek to prove himself.
Jiricek struggled to find regular ice time in Columbus. Jiricek only played 43 games with the Blue Jackets last year. He had 22 penalty minutes in those games, and Columbus may have considered him more of a liability than his offensive production was worth.
He played 6 games in Columbus this season but only had one assist. After the trade, Jiricek played 11 games in Iowa before Minnesota called him up for his first game on January 9 against the Colorado Avalanche due to injuries.
Jiricek has been a two-way defenseman for the Wild. He had positive plus/minus for the last six games, four of which were losses. Despite playing 13:02 minutes on average this season, he only took one two-minute penalty.
He has gained more attention in the past few games by stepping up in key moments. On Saturday, Jiricek scored 6:23 into the first period of Minnesota’s game against the Nashville Predators.
The game was full of tension due to Zachary L’Heureux’s slew foot against Jared Spurgeon on December 31, which injured the Wild defenseman. It was an important goal because Minnesota scored first, and it should have set the tone for the rest of the game. Unfortunately, most of the team focused too much on getting revenge through fighting rather than the scoreboard, and the Wild lost 6-2.
Jiricek was also productive against the Colorado Avalanche on Monday. The defenseman dangled and bodied his way through four of five Colorado players to put the puck on Yakov Trenin’s stick, who sniped low blocker side. Trenin may have finished the play, but Jiricek made it happen. Jiricek also got a great shot on net earlier in the game. However, Avalanche goalie Mackenzie Blackwood made an incredible save. Blackwood robbed the Wild of a goal, but it shows the kind of offense he can generate.
The Wild acquired Jiricek to generate offense from the blue line. Still, there was no guarantee he’d produce immediately this season, considering the Blue Jackets barely played him, and the Wild started him in Iowa. Jiricek should have more upside than Hunt, and he has taken advantage of extended ice time due to Minnesota’s injuries in the past few games.
However, he has also already shown chemistry with his linemates in Minnesota. Guerin also wanted Jiricek for his size, which may have been less important to his former Columbus coach, old friend Dean Evanson. Ultimately, Jiricek’s recent success is a silver lining in a season where the Wild have suffered many injuries.
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