Minnesota Wild acquire top young defenseman from Columbus Blue Jackets

Following speculation, the Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild have reached a deal that could have big implications for both teams. NHL insiders Frank Seravalli and Pierre Lebrun reported that the Wild have traded for top young defenseman David Jiricek, ending weeks of trade speculation surrounding the young puck-moving player.

According to Seravalli, the Wild and Blue Jackets have reached a lucrative deal for the 21-year-old defenseman. The Wild reportedly sent veteran guard Damon Hunt, a 2025 first-round draft pick, a 2027 second-round pick and a 2027 fourth-round pick in exchange for Jiricek and a 2025 fifth-round pick.

Jiricek was originally selected by the Blue Jackets with the sixth overall pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. The Czech Republic native stands at a whopping 6-foot-4 and weighs over 200 pounds, giving him the ideal size that all NHL teams covet. Add to that the fact that he’s a right-hander, and it’s no wonder how coveted he was when word spread that he wanted out of Columbus.

Although he is only 21 years old, he already has some NHL experience. He played 43 NHL games last season, which turned out to be his biggest opportunity with the Blue Jackets. Averaging 14:30 minutes of playing time per game, he scored one goal and nine assists for 10 points.

He started this season with the NHL team, but was quickly sent to the AHL. It was after this step that Jiricek’s trade request became public knowledge.

Now Jiricek is starting a new life in Minnesota. The Wild have invested heavily in improving their defensive prospects, with Jiricek now becoming the second highly touted defenseman to join their organization in the last calendar year.

The team selected University of Denver standout Ze’ev Buyum in the last draft, and he appears to be the top pairing of defensemen at the NHL level. Now they add Jiricek, who has all the makings of a top-pair, shutdown defenseman, and suddenly the Wild have a deep, deep group of prospects.

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