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  • The David Jiricek Trade Is Still the Right Call


    Image courtesy of Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
    Tony Abbott

    When the Minnesota Wild traded for David Jiricek on November 30, they did so partly because the price was right. They got a blue-chip defense prospect for Daemon Hunt and four draft picks. You can argue the draft capital (a first, second, third, and fourth-round pick, staggered between 2025 and 2027) is a lot, and maybe it is. But Jiriceks don't come onto the market often, and the Wild believed in him, so it was a no-brainer.

    Since then, however, the Wild have been hampered not necessarily by the cost of getting Jiricek but arguably by the opportunity cost of making that move. Minnesota was always going to have a tough time at the trade deadline with their salary cap restrictions, but the Jiricek deal cranked up the difficulty. Without their 2025 first-round pick, it was going to be difficult to pry someone like Brock Boeser from the Vancouver Canucks. Instead, the Wild settled for trading their 2026 second-rounder for Gustav Nyquist.

    It's safe to say the route the front office chose is going bust, at least for the 2024-25 Wild. Nyquist hasn't brought offense to the Wild, scoring just three points (all assists) in 15 games. Meanwhile, Minnesota hasn't seen much use for Jiricek in the NHL, playing just six games in the NHL and zero since January 20. As of Tuesday, there's a 12% chance that the Wild will have been aggressive buyers this season while missing the playoffs.

    Second-guessing the Wild is easy when they're (at best) backing into the playoffs. But Minnesota's mediocrity lately is why the Jiricek trade was such a brilliant maneuver in the first place.

    Unlike the Nyquist trade, acquiring Jiricek wasn't a move that would either help Minnesota in 2024-25 or not at all. The use of assets was aggressive, making other moves at the trade deadline difficult. But what kind of deals are we talking about? The opportunity cost for the Wild was almost certainly forgoing short-term player rentals. Instead, the Wild pulled off a forward-thinking swap that should set them up for years.

    That's not just a defensible trade; it's exactly what fans should have wanted Minnesota to do. Unless you expect to see the Wild advance to the second round (Moneypuck puts their odds at 18.6%) or further, most fans would probably prefer the team to sell at the deadline or at least not buy. Trading a first-round pick is by definition a "buyer" action, but obtaining a top prospect is the desired outcome of a "seller." 

    Looking at it through that lens, suddenly, it doesn't matter whether Jiricek was able to make an impact this season. Especially since the Wild were always upfront about this not being a move for this season.

    "I think it's gonna take us a little while to get him up to speed here," Guerin said after making the trade. "There's a lot for him to learn."

    Scouting director Judd Brackett echoed that sentiment, telling The Athletic, "[He] still has some things to work on, obviously, as he transitions to playing pro hockey in North America.

    "But it's really hard to get these types of players."

    That last point is especially true with what Minnesota gave up to get Jiricek in the first place. Columbus is slated to take the Wild's pick at 21st overall. A team can get a useful player at that spot, sure -- Columbus did with Yegor Chinakhov in 2020. At the same time, the home run rate isn't great, and this draft is "below average," per Corey Pronman. And the talent thins out fast.

    Players can always drop, but here are the NHL comparables for numbers 19 to 23 on Pronman's March rankings -- within two spots of 21st overall: Ryan Hartman, J.T. Compher, Ross Colton, Chris Tanev, and Zach Whitecloud. If those prospects hit those projections, Columbus should get a solid player. But that day may be two-to-three years away, and it may also never arrive.

    And if 21st overall is far from a sure bet, what about those second, third, and fourth-round picks? You can find value in those rounds. They will yield role players more often than they'll produce a Jason Robertson, Brayden Point, or Devon Toews. As for Hunt, he has yet to play in the NHL for the Blue Jackets and has just two goals and 13 points in 44 games for the AHL's Cleveland Monsters. Minnesota may have traded him at the peak of his value.

    Meanwhile, if Jiricek hits his reasonable upside, the Wild have an impact top-four defenseman on their hands. They may have that as soon as next season. Even with his skating flaws, Jiricek still put up Monstar numbers for the Monsters. Minnesota seems confident working with their skating and strength coaches this summer will unlock the 6-foot-4 blueliner's potential.

    Will it? That's ultimately what will vindicate or doom the trade. But that's still a solid, smart bet, even if we await the returns. Focusing on the playoff run, it'd have been better for Minnesota to do some LTIR shenanigans and acquire a big name like Boeser for 25 games.

    However, the far wiser move is to focus on building the Wild for their actual competitive window, and that's why the Jiricek trade is still 100% the right call.

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    If Buium and Jiricek replace two of Chisholm, Merrill, and Bogo, that is an upgrade on all fronts.  Those three account for 35 points and a -9.  Hell, if Zeev hits half of what Hutson did this year for Montreal, then that covers the offensive replacement on his own.  That's without any input from Jiricek.

    Infusing them into the lineup could also help Faber out, who sure went through a sophomore slump.

    There's every chance Buium, Jiricek, or both fall flat...but you gotta take that chance. Bottom 3 defensemen averaging 10 pts isn't gonna cut it.

    Edited by Citizen Strife
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    This was absolutely the right thing to do. Jiricek's don't grow on trees and when they become available, you'd like to be able to pounce! It seems expensive with all the draft capital given up, but this year wasn't our year to go for it. That starts next year. 

    Our prospect cupboards are full, I'd like to have our 1st in '26 but after that, we will be trading our currency for help on runs. 

    ODC preaches living in the present. That present, I think, starts next season. I'll admit to living for the future, but a quick switching of gears happens this offseason. Jiricek should be on the opening night roster in October. I would play him with Brodin who can cover for mistakes. He'll help eat minutes from Faber. We have no idea what will happen with Spurgy. 

    Still having a right side of Faber, Spureon, Jiricek looks pretty nice on paper. The other side of Middleton, Brodin and Buium looks equally good. Ottawa looks like a playoff team right now, which should help Tkachuk stay content, but if a Faber/Tkachuk deal even exists, I think you have to do it. He's probably the only player out there I would do this for. 

    Otherwise, this defense looks to be top 5 in the league to me. We've also got 2 guys in Iowa getting better: Lambos and Spacek. I think they can debut next season and be ok as injury fill ins. This is a very good, deep defensive team. 

    Shooter was building the team from the goalie out. With Goose and The Wall in goal and this defense, he really only needs to worry about the forwards now. 

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    This is such an off take...Jiricek is still just a prospect. We can all hope (I do), but like all prospects, nothing is 100% until they show what they can do at the NHL level. Imagine this same article written in 2012 but the name David Jiricek is switched out with Nail Yakupov. We would have all be giddy with excitement, until we werent.  Detractors will say hindsight is always 20/20, but that is my point. Without any hindsight, it is not possible to say with 100% certainty what a player is going to be at the NHL level. 

    Likewise, if next season is our last with Kaprizov, the the assets given up for Jiricek would have gone a long way this off season to bolster the top six to make one good run in the 2025-26 playoffs, mooting any point that the trade right now was 100% the right move.

    Edited by Lern2spell
    Missing word
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    Riley Heidt had a couple of assist in a loss last night. Prince George is down 2-1

    Kalem Parker saw his Calgary team take a 3-0 but was held off the scoresheet

    Ryder Ritchie contributed an assist in a losing cause for Medicine Hat who is up 2-1 in its series. Ritchie also had a couple of roughing minors, coincidental

     

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    4 minutes ago, Lern2spell said:

    ikewise, if next season is our last with Kaprizov, the the assets given up for Jiricek would have gone a long way this off season to bolster the top six to make one good run in the 2025-26 playoffs, mooting any point that the trade right now was 100% the right move.

    I thought the goal was to bring in assets to convince Kaprizov to want to stay? I think this does that. It doesn't matter what the team has done in the past, what matters is can the Wild win in the future if Kaprizov signs here? I think this helps us out in that category and we are closer to contending. Most every team has that large RHS defender. Now we've got ours.

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    Our defense is set for next season.  I think Jiricek and Buium will both be on the roster.  

    I have high hopes for Buium earning the PP1 spot.  I don't know if we could pair Buium and Jiricek though as the 3rd pair... too green and both play a loose game.  

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    16 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

    I thought the goal was to bring in assets to convince Kaprizov to want to stay? I think this does that. It doesn't matter what the team has done in the past, what matters is can the Wild win in the future if Kaprizov signs here? I think this helps us out in that category and we are closer to contending. Most every team has that large RHS defender. Now we've got ours.

    I think what matters is what the Wild will do if Kaprizov chooses to leave, and I am not sure how much Jiricek moves the needle to convince Kaprizov to stay. If Kap leaves next season, there is a good chance those two would play less than a handful of games together. Who knows, maybe those draft picks could have been used to enter the Rantanen sweepstakes, or on obtaining some other high caliber top six help, which would have definitely been better for convincing Kap to remain with the Wild than adding any prospect currently not on the roster. Again, I hope Jiricek, Buium, Yurov and others (Wallstedt) work out as planned, but the likes of Kunin, Lambos, Beckman, Walker and others lend caution to saying any prospect is 100% certain to stick.

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    The jury will be out for at least a year or two, assuming he ever plays. There is a reason he is sitting, especially when the Wild are desperate for scoring.

    Reading this article just confirms what I already knew, Guerin is a bonehead. The moves, trades, signings, etc., he is batting about .100. Yet another GM to keep the Wild perpetually stuck in the middle. It's ultimately not his fault, it's exactly what Leipold wants. "Just keeps butts in seats and get me some playoff money every year." Yawn.

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    1 hour ago, Lern2spell said:

    This is such an off take...Jiricek is still just a prospect. We can all hope (I do), but like all prospects, nothing is 100% until they show what they can do at the NHL level.

    He is a prospect, but not one without NHL minutes. They want him to develop better habits that become his standard habits before playing him too much and not incorporating the better habits, but he was already playable as is.

    Prior to his lacerated spleen that shut him down for the year, the Wild were holding him out to make him better suited to top 4 D pairing minutes, which requires work on his skating.

    In the tiny sample of 6 games the Wild did put Jiricek on the ice, he played 72.5 even strength minutes and the Wild outscored their opponents 3-1 with Jiricek tallying 1 goal and 1 assist. He's already shown himself as a capable NHLer that isn't going to hurt you in limited minutes, the Wild simply want to ingrain good habits that will allow him to fulfill his potential as a top 10 pick.

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    1 hour ago, RedLake said:

    Jiricek would of outplayed Spurgeon, Johnny f'in Merril, Bogosian, and Chislom yet he rotted in Iowa buttonhooker country.

    Would you like to explain your button hook repetition?

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    1 hour ago, Imyourhuckleberry said:

    He is a prospect, but not one without NHL minutes. They want him to develop better habits that become his standard habits before playing him too much and not incorporating the better habits, but he was already playable as is.

    I understand all this...they're hoping for top 4 minutes someday. But what if he ends up being a right shot Chisholm, someone who can play up for a spell if need be, but ultimately is a bottom pair defensemen? Was what they gave up to get a prospect 100% the right call when they were in desperate need of secondary top six scoring? If it is, that should leave Spurgeon expendable to trade this off-season to free up salary to be used to fill that top six void. If not, this trade may be part of the fodder for firing the GM if Kaprizov leaves. And yes, Guerin will be on the hot seat if Kaprizov departs after being given no-move clauses the last two years of his contract, limiting the return they might get at the deadline next season, especially if they don't make the playoffs again this year. And AGAIN, I hope Jiricek pans out and is playing top four minutes alongside Brodin sometime soon. 

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    6 minutes ago, Lern2spell said:

    Guerin will be on the hot seat if Kaprizov departs after being given no-move clauses the last two years of his contract, limiting the return they might get at the deadline next season, especially if they don't make the playoffs again this year.

    I cannot disagree with you about it not being 100%, only that he's already playable, so the Wild could probably recoup that 1st round pick if they wanted to trade him in the offseason to another team.

    Guerin could ultimately be on the hot seat if he does re-sign Kaprizov, but #97 starts producing like Johansson following another injury. Past performance may not be indicative of future results.

    Nothing is 100%, but there are reasons to be excited about the future of the Wild with Jiricek added more so than if they had retained that pick to add an 18 year old from this draft, or if they traded that pick for Brock Boeser or Brock Nelson, either of which could be available via free agency if the Wild have interest.

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    Would it be that far out of possibility that he could score 45 points in a season?  I don't think it is out of the question.  That would instantly put him as top scoring defenseman on the team.  A lot of people are saying that this is a terrible move by the Wild.  I don't see it that way.  Sure they could have picked up a decent player with the first round pick but that player would not be in St. Paul next year.  With this trade they get someone who will play next year and is under 23 years of age.  Hunt was never going to play in St. Paul on a regular basis if he did he would just take Merrill's spot as the worst one of the lot.  

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    Has anyone been following Buium? He’s got 8pts in the last 5 games. He’s one of the big reasons Denver is in the final four right now. Watch his highlights in this article.

    https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-sports/zeev-buium-leads-denver-back-frozen-four-when-will-make-wild-debut

    Hes skating around making everyone else look silly. I’m not saying he’s going to be Quinn Hughes but he’s on that type of trajectory right now. I really think he’s the real deal.

    image.png.b8e3b2bbdfbeb88aef9d4bc48dea984e.png

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    1 minute ago, Mateo3xm said:

    Has anyone been following Buium? He’s got 8pts in the last 5 games. He’s one of the big reasons Denver is in the final four right now. Watch his highlights in this article.

    https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-sports/zeev-buium-leads-denver-back-frozen-four-when-will-make-wild-debut

    Hes skating around making everyone else look silly. I’m not saying he’s going to be Quinn Hughes but he’s on that type of trajectory right now. I really think he’s the real deal.

    image.png.b8e3b2bbdfbeb88aef9d4bc48dea984e.png

    Yeah he's more Legit than Faber was. He's better than Huges. PP1 against the Jets will make differences.

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    8 hours ago, Imyourhuckleberry said:

    He is a prospect, but not one without NHL minutes. They want him to develop better habits that become his standard habits before playing him too much and not incorporating the better habits, but he was already playable as is.

    Prior to his lacerated spleen that shut him down for the year, the Wild were holding him out to make him better suited to top 4 D pairing minutes, which requires work on his skating.

    In the tiny sample of 6 games the Wild did put Jiricek on the ice, he played 72.5 even strength minutes and the Wild outscored their opponents 3-1 with Jiricek tallying 1 goal and 1 assist. He's already shown himself as a capable NHLer that isn't going to hurt you in limited minutes, the Wild simply want to ingrain good habits that will allow him to fulfill his potential as a top 10 pick.

    Perfectly put!!

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    13 hours ago, mnfaninnc said:

    I thought the goal was to bring in assets to convince Kaprizov to want to stay? I think this does that. It doesn't matter what the team has done in the past, what matters is can the Wild win in the future if Kaprizov signs here? I think this helps us out in that category and we are closer to contending. Most every team has that large RHS defender. Now we've got ours.

    The goal should have been to bring someone on Kaprizov’s timeline and to join his line, to mesh with him and in some way protect him more than Zuccy and Rossi can. Yes it’s a big ask, but Billy had plenty of time. Jiricek is not that. He is a raw prospect and not an offensive partner for him. The true fail of Bill (again) is biting early and having really no clear plan. The picks are very substantial and combines with later blunders - you could see a package offered to canes where we walk out w Ranty. But instead we have Nyquist, Jiri and Braz and are trying to make something positive out of it. Neither will help us in the now nor has helped us to have a more convincing pitch to Kap this summer. Fail

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    4 hours ago, OldDutchChip said:

    The true fail of Bill (again) is biting early and having really no clear plan.

    Looks to me like the "plan" was a simple one: rebuild from the goalie out with the '20-22 draft classes. I know you like Ranty, but his style of play and our style of play don't mix very well, as we saw in Carolina. We have a similarly structured system. 

    I don't think Ranty would have stayed here, nor do I think he would have been successful here. 

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    I thought last night's game was kind of stealing a point. I thought the team hustled and played with desperation, but they just, simply, weren't good enough. But, the effort was there, and that is encouraging. Now we must duplicate the same on Long Island. 

    I had thought if we won that game, we pretty much punched our ticket to the playoffs. Canucks laid an egg at home and lost 5-0 to the Kraken. Honestly, I think both Calgary and Vancouver will struggle to find 90 pts. 

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