The Edmonton Oilers have had numerous roster related issues and resulting speculation about their presence on the trade market head into the middle half of the season. Improvements at forward focusing on speed, something they may have started to address with the waiver claim of Kasperi Kapanen, are one area. Goaltending is another, crucial area for improvement as the team tries to climb up from having some of the worst goaltending stats in the league. And finally, on defence, where the Ty Emberson experiment maybe didn’t pay off as well as hoped. Though he has been excellent on the third pairing.
But, that has left the hole on the second pair, which is yet to be filled. One of the more recent names to pop up is that of Columbus Blue Jackets defender David Jiricek.
As of recently, Jiricek had been sent down to the Cleveland Monsters, the AHL affiliate of the Blue Jackets, after recording one assist in six games so far this season with Columbus.
Jiricek’s time in Columbus
You might be wondering how a sixth overall pick from the 2022 NHL Draft is already looking for a new home. After spending a fairly successful rookie season in the AHL, recording 38 points in 55 games, he spent most of last season in the NHL. But, he was quite public about his dissatisfaction with being sent back to the AHL later in the year.
This season, it seems to have boiled over as Jiricek has seen an even smaller role on the Blue Jackets than last season and recently, was sent down to the AHL.
The blueline in Columbus is loaded, there are more possible options than spots. And it seems Jiricek is the odd-man out. Especially when the Blue Jackets recently claimed Dante Fabbro off of waivers and immediately gave him a huge role on the team’s defensive group over Jiricek.
Trade rumours have, as a result, started swirling around Jiricek and picked up over the past week. A young right-handed defender with size and offensive upside is an incredibly valuable and sought after asset and many teams around the league would be happy to welcome him aboard. The Oilers, included.
Jiricek player profile
Jiricek was a highly ranked prospect in the 2022 NHL Draft, even breaking the top five on some mock drafts. Ultimately, he was selected sixth overall and broke into the North American professional game with high expectations.
There is a lot to like from Jiricek’s game and he has high potential, based on a compilation of various scouting reports.
He has size, though he may not be the most physical player around, he does use it to hold opponents to the outside. As is the case with nearly any younger defender, his defensive game is a work in progress. But that is not concerning at this stage in his career.
Offensively, Jiricek is not afraid to shoot, though most of his offensive production comes in the form of playmaking and distribution. He has a high offensive IQ and does play aggressive in the offensive zone, leading to the occasional miscue or poorly timed pinch leading to a chance the other way. His heavy shot should lead to more goal production in time, however. So far this season, he has not been able to utilize it much at the NHL level.
Jiricek’s fit with the Oilers
The Oilers are in win-now mode and need players who can help them accomplish this goal this season. As Jiricek is yet to solidify a place in the NHL, he may not be an option for this season. It would be another huge gamble to move assets to bring him in as the answer for this season, only to find out he is not quite ready for the role he would be thrust into and the hole in the lineup is still left unfilled.
Moving forward, Edmonton has an extremely decimated prospect pool and could use someone viewed as more of a sure thing moving up the pipeline soon to make an NHL impact. They would likely have to give up prospects and draft capital in order to acquire Jiricek, but he may be more of a sure thing than some others in the organization (or future picks) would be.
In the future, Jiricek would project well into the Oilers’ lineup. His offensive instincts would help provide some depth offence from the defence, give them another option on the second powerplay unit, and fit well into a system with quick puck movement as a focus.
The biggest concern is his defensive game still needing work. Which is not abnormal for young defenders, especially those with Jiricek’s offensive upside. This may delay his blooming into a full-time NHL’er somewhat, given his potential linemate on the second pair.
Overall, Jiricek would likely be too expensive for the Oilers to acquire via trade for what they need in the roster right now. If the team was still a year or two out from competing, his trajectory would fit perfect. But the team needs someone this season to improve the defence, and it does not seem like Jiricek is ready for that role quite yet. With a trade bait board that has a distinct lack of high value options, the front office needs to be careful where they spend them.
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