Entering the 2024 season, the Blue Jackets have a glaring hole on the right side of their defense. With only two right-handed shooters (Damon Severson and Erik Gudbranson) scheduled to play in the NHL this season, David Jiricek must take the next step and prove he deserves a full-time job with the big club.
Jiricek, who was selected sixth overall in the 2022 NHL Draft, has spent the last two years primarily developing in the AHL. Which is fine – defensemen usually develop at completely different paces. But now he has the chance to take control of his own path.
He appeared in 43 games with the Blue Jackets last season with mixed results. He scored 1 goal and 9 assists (10 points) and had a -4 rating. In 29 AHL games with the Cleveland Monsters, he went 7-12-19 but had a worrying -16 rating. He was better in the playoffs, which is encouraging; but 11 games is a small sample size.
Related. Jiricek. David Jiricek season review. dark
There is clearly still some work to be done here, but I think he has proven himself sufficiently in the AHL. He will be 21 this season and as a top talent he should be playing in the NHL this year.
David certainly isn’t guaranteed a job in the NHL this season, but he needs to take a step and prove he’s ready. There are two full-time positions open on defense and a seventh man is needed, and with four players competing for the jobs, there’s definitely an opportunity here.
We expect Jack Johnson to get the 7th man spot. That means Jiricek will have to compete with two left-handed shooters – Jake Christiansen and the newly acquired Jordan Harris – for one of the last two NHL jobs. Being the only right-handed shooter gives him an advantage, but he also stands out in many ways.
At 6’3″ and weighing around 215 pounds, Jiricek is significantly bigger than the other two candidates vying for the jobs here. He was also selected in the first round of the draft, which gives him an advantage whether the team admits it or not.
Foot speed continues to be an issue, but he has worked hard to change that, and I don’t think it will come out as much as it did last year with the right guidance. He should be coached much better this season in the NHL.
Other than that, he’s a good all-around player who just has a few rough edges. Jiricek has the big shot, can land the big hit, and is a nightmare for opposing teams in transition. If he shows early, he’s easily the most talented defender on the right side of this defense and could earn top playing time alongside Zach Werenski.
A bold prediction: David Jiricek will establish himself as one of the Blue Jackets’ four best defenders before Christmas.
That’s pretty bold, I’ll admit. But Jiricek has shown moments of brilliance accompanied by periods of inconsistency. Those mistakes will correct themselves if he’s in a better position to start with, so I’m taking this bet that the coaches will improve the team’s defensive zone coverage. If that happens, there’s no reason Jiricek can’t play 16+ minutes a night in the NHL.
