Jiricek

[SameOldBlues]

Just think if both mailloux and Jiricek develop as project thats a solid 2nd and 3rd pair on RD. I doubt either one would ever be a true number 1 so not sure what we will do there when CP55 is no longer a blues!

Mails isn’t projecting well at all

He played today. Seemed to hold his own.

He’s not projecting well for a high pick. You know that already

I still think he'll be a fine top 4 Dman with much needed grit when its all said and done.

[wiscrev]

Just think if both mailloux and Jiricek develop as project thats a solid 2nd and 3rd pair on RD. I doubt either one would ever be a true number 1 so not sure what we will do there when CP55 is no longer a blues!

Mails isn’t projecting well at all

He played today. Seemed to hold his own.

He’s not projecting well for a high pick. You know that already

Atta boy, Negative Nancy chimes in again. BTW, your chimes are off!

I still think he'll be a fine top 4 Dman with much needed grit when its all said and done.

[sneptsmoustache]

I think Mailloux is going to need the ol' 200 NHL games (or more) to figure it out. And it's going to be a painful couple of seasons to get there.

[PregnantNun]

Forwards take around 200 games to figure it out. D-men easily take an average of 200 games. LM is not some generational talent like Makar. He needs to develop, and it's going to take time. If he's a reliable top 4 d-man in 3-4 years I'll be happy.

[dhsux]

Just think if both mailloux and Jiricek develop as project thats a solid 2nd and 3rd pair on RD. I doubt either one would ever be a true number 1 so not sure what we will do there when CP55 is no longer a blues!

Mails isn’t projecting well at all

He played today. Seemed to hold his own.

He’s not projecting well for a high pick. You know that already

I still think he'll be a fine top 4 Dman with much needed grit when its all said and done.

I do too.

He had a weird and interrupted progression coming into the league. On top of that I'd guess some immaturity.

I believe he knows STL is giving him a huge opportunity and from my seat he most certainly has the talent, size and skill.... now it gets down to actually finding his game under the bright lights.

So far, the Blues have handled him quite well, IMO. While not being rushed they have put the brass ring right in front of him. And he has clearly responded.

[DawgDad]

Well, Jiricek is in the WJC final vs Sweden, one of the leading players on his team. He's clearly back in position as a top defensive prospect. Best to him!

[Boomac]

Forwards take around 200 games to figure it out. D-men easily take an average of 200 games. LM is not some generational talent like Makar. He needs to develop, and it's going to take time. If he's a reliable top 4 d-man in 3-4 years I'll be happy.

+1. If he progresses a little bit each week, I'll be happy. I'm still hoping he can develop into a right shot Vince Dunn type. It took Dunn 6 full seasons to hit his ceiling.

[Boomac]

I agree with those saying that Jiricek was one of the best defensemen in last year's tournament, but his overall junior play plus missed development time had me a little skeptical that he could reach his projected potential. I was also one of those (going into the 2024 draft) that was hoping for one of Zayne Parekh, Sam Dickinson or Zeev Buium - I still think the Blues prospect system is missing a defensemen whose a natural Powerplay Quarterback.

He has surely turned it around. He's starting to make the Blues' staff look patient & smart while erasing the skepticism fans like I had, kudos to the young man for putting in the effort!

[zamadoo]

I agree with those saying that Jiricek was one of the best defensemen in last year's tournament, but his overall junior play plus missed development time had me a little skeptical that he could reach his projected potential. I was also one of those (going into the 2024 draft) that was hoping for one of Zayne Parekh, Sam Dickinson or Zeev Buium - I still think the Blues prospect system is missing a defensemen whose a natural Powerplay Quarterback.

He has surely turned it around. He's starting to make the Blues' staff look patient & smart while erasing the skepticism fans like I had, kudos to the young man for putting in the effort!

Yeah I wouldn't say that last year overall was good for Jiricek, but he showed what he's capable of at the WJC with I think like 10 games to prepare. Then after the tournament I think he dealt with some more injury issues. So yes, how he looked over the summer/preseason, how he's performed so far in the OHL regular season, and now what he's doing as a 19 year old leader of his Czech WJC team - all very positive signs that we love to see after last year.

I agree, we may be missing that PP QB, but we didn't really have one in 2019, and we have tried with at least one player (Perunovich). I did like Dickinson in that draft, and would've been fine with him over Jiricek.

[a smell of green grass]

Here are his stats.

The only thing that is a bit concerning is that he's one of the very few on the team that is not "+" in the plus/minus. His score was "0".

https://www.iihf.com/pdf/37/ihm0370cze_83_6_0

[Pierre McGuire]

Here are his stats.

The only thing that is a bit concerning is that he's one of the very few on the team that is not "+" in the plus/minus. His score was "0".

https://www.iihf.com/pdf/37/ihm0370cze_83_6_0

Nothing to worry about, he was their go to guy on defense in terms of ice time. He was out against the other teams best players.

[a smell of green grass]

Here are his stats.

The only thing that is a bit concerning is that he's one of the very few on the team that is not "+" in the plus/minus. His score was "0".

https://www.iihf.com/pdf/37/ihm0370cze_83_6_0

Nothing to worry about, he was their go to guy on defense in terms of ice time. He was out against the other teams best players.

How would you characterize Jiricek's contributions on the offensive side of things?

[Rollin' on the River]

Here are his stats.

The only thing that is a bit concerning is that he's one of the very few on the team that is not "+" in the plus/minus. His score was "0".

https://www.iihf.com/pdf/37/ihm0370cze_83_6_0

So what?

He played 21:00 of shut down hockey against the best group of players in the tournament

[DawgDad]

Here are his stats.

The only thing that is a bit concerning is that he's one of the very few on the team that is not "+" in the plus/minus. His score was "0".

https://www.iihf.com/pdf/37/ihm0370cze_83_6_0

So what?

He played 21:00 of shut down hockey against the best group of players in the tournament

There is nothing there not to like. All Jiricek needs to do is keep working, keep playing.

[Harry S Deals]

Here are his stats.

The only thing that is a bit concerning is that he's one of the very few on the team that is not "+" in the plus/minus. His score was "0".

https://www.iihf.com/pdf/37/ihm0370cze_83_6_0

So what?

He played 21:00 of shut down hockey against the best group of players in the tournament

There is nothing there not to like. All Jiricek needs to do is keep working, keep playing.

I believe Jiricek leads WJC '26 dmen in shots on goal and TOI. Hes taking the toughest match ups at his age, EVEN and probably also leads in Blocks. In fact if you had to redo the '24 draft class where would you take Jiricek, in hindsight?

2) Levshunov
7) Yakemchuk
9) Parekh
10) Siayev
11) Dickinson
12) Buium
16) Jircek


Jiricek NOW likely goes #10 that feels about right, not sure about Yakemchuk vs Jircek yet. Yakemchuk is 10 months older and already in the AHL but with a tough +/-

[Pierre McGuire]

Here are his stats.

The only thing that is a bit concerning is that he's one of the very few on the team that is not "+" in the plus/minus. His score was "0".

https://www.iihf.com/pdf/37/ihm0370cze_83_6_0

So what?

He played 21:00 of shut down hockey against the best group of players in the tournament

There is nothing there not to like. All Jiricek needs to do is keep working, keep playing.

I believe Jiricek leads WJC '26 dmen in shots on goal and TOI. Hes taking the toughest match ups at his age, EVEN and probably also leads in Blocks. In fact if you had to redo the '24 draft class where would you take Jiricek, in hindsight?

2) Levshunov
7) Yakemchuk
9) Parekh
10) Siayev
11) Dickinson
12) Buium
16) Jircek


Jiricek NOW likely goes #10 that feels about right, not sure about Yakemchuk vs Jircek yet. Yakemchuk is 10 months older and already in the AHL but with a tough +/-

You’d have to redo the whole list. Buium would be #1 and the rest is really undetermined