Wild give up 2025 first-round pick to get defenseman David Jiricek from Columbus Blue Jackets

The newest Wild prospect could make an impact in the NHL sooner rather than later.

Before puck drop vs. Nashville on Saturday night, the team acquired David Jiricek from Columbus, an offensive, right-shot, 6-foot-4 defenseman from the Czech Republic who was drafted sixth overall two years ago but never clicked with the Blue Jackets.

Jiricek, 21, cost the Wild their top defensive prospect in Daemon Hunt and a slew of draft picks, including their upcoming first-rounder, but Wild President of Hockey Operations Bill Guerin felt sacrificing that pick was a “no-brainer” since Guerin didn’t see the Wild drafting from that position and Jiricek is a top selection.

That first-round pick is top-five protected, though, which means in the unlikely event the Wild land one of the first five selections for the 2025 draft, they’ll hold on to that pick and instead send their 2026 first-rounder to Columbus. The Blue Jackets also received third- and fourth-round picks in 2026 that the Wild previously secured in trades with Colorado and Toronto, respectively, and a 2027 second-rounder, while the Wild added a 2025 fifth-rounder.

Jiricek has been assigned to the Iowa in the American Hockey League, but coach John Hynes said he will practice with the Wild on Monday; Jonas Brodin missed a third straight game Saturday with an upper-body injury, and Guerin expected to have an update on Brodin’s status in the coming days.

Jiricek has been assigned to Iowa in the American Hockey League, but it’s likely he joins the Wild in the not-too-distant future; Jonas Brodin missed a third straight game Saturday with an upper-body injury, and Guerin expected to have an update on Brodin’s status in the coming days.

“[Jiricek’s] something that we don’t have in the system really with that size,” said Guerin, who had been working on the trade for a while and wasn’t concerned by Jiricek not panning out with the organization that drafted him. “So, we felt it was worth what we gave up.”

On the Wild’s radar since his draft year, Jiricek was on the trade block after shuffling between the minors and NHL since he was called sixth overall in 2022.

Last season was his longest stint with Columbus, Jiricek tallying one goal and nine assists in 43 games, but a change in regime — former Wild coach Dean Evason took over behind the bench and a new general manger arrived, too — didn’t help Jiricek stick in the lineup; just last week he was demoted to the AHL after picking up one assist in six games. In 53 career NHL appearances, Jiricek has one goal and 10 assists.

His skating and defensive acumen have been criticized, but Guerin believes Jiricek will improve.

“It’s our job to help him get better,” said Guerin, calling the deal an “investment.”

What appeals to the Wild is the combination of a righthanded defender with size and offensive instincts: Jiricek has 60 points, including six power-play goals, in 88 career AHL games and was third in scoring among AHL defensemen last playoffs.

Team brass also liked his international resume, which includes representing Czechia at three World Junior Championships; he was named the tournament’s top defenseman in 2023.

Hunt was the Wild’s eighth defenseman but was boxed out despite looking NHL-ready.

Guerin admitted he “hated” including Hunt in the deal, but the trade does bolster the right side of the Wild’s defense. Jiricek and University of Denver defenseman Zeev Buium, who the Wild drafted 12th overall in June, give the Wild young options alongside Brock Faber; captain Jared Spurgeon has two seasons left on his contract after this season.

“Between having some youth on the blue line, having some veteran leadership — guys that they can learn from is really important, too,” Guerin said. “But, yeah, I’m excited about the future of the blue line.”