Adam Jiříček

[skilles]

I’m just going to copy/paste what I wrote a few days ago on him in another thread. But the short version is it’s too early to call him a bust but he admittedly pretty clearly had a concerning D+1 season after a concerning draft season.

I’m far from calling him a bust but I also want to be honest in my assessment. He didn’t have a good D+1 season after not having a great draft season. It’s not encouraging and is a legit concern.

The kid’s skating and offensive sense are good. And he’s 6’2” and a righty, so there are certainly some aspects of his game that are encouraging. But he’s supposed to have good two-way ability and I see him as lacking on both the offensive and defensive sides of the game. He only scored 12 pts in 27 games this season. That’s really not anything special at all, especially given where he was drafted. He just didn’t do much in terms of leading with transition or controlling the blue line in the offensive zone. But his main deficiencies are in his defensive game IMO. His positioning and decision making were both downright bad in the OHL. There’s also the fact he only played 27 games after playing even fewer last season. He suffered 3-5 additional injuries this season, one of them being a pretty obvious concussion (after having one last season too). Could he end up being healthy going forward? Sure, but it’s a massive red flag. If he was a 3rd round pick, I’d say he’s right on track and he looked good and he has some tools that might make him a real impact d-man if he can improve his weaknesses. That’d be fantastic for a 3rd round pick. But we drafted him 16th overall…and by those expectations, he had a bad season IMO.

I really hope he can add another 10+ lbs of muscle this summer and stay healthy this next season. The next 12 months will be huge for his career IMO. We really need him to hit as we could badly use a young top-4 RD to come up through the system in the next few years but I’m also going to call a spade a spade. The Blues took a risk on a d-man that has some good tools but missed most of his draft season with a blown out knee…and so far that risk isn’t looking so great IMO.

He's already 6'2" 179 he turns 19 in a few weeks. He'll be a solid draft pick for the franchise he may be the replacement for Parayko or he may be a fixture in the top 4 RHD who knows. Any worry about a "bust" is ridiculous, dumb. Check back when he's 22 my guess is fans will be excited to get him into the lineup

The concern is far from ridiculous. He has a ton of time to turn it around but there’s really no denying he’s not trending well at the moment.

I think I’m pretty well established here as one of the main people continually saying to give the prospects time. So when I say I’m concerned with Jiricek's development, I’m not just crying wolf. It’s a concern.

Are there guys sticking out as better picks already?

That were picked after him? Absolutely. Will it shake out that way 5-10 years from now? Who knows. But there’s definitely players picked after him that had better seasons, project better and who I’d much prefer we had instead.

Yeah that is what I meant, picked after him. I don't mind going for upside at 16 if there are just a bunch of safer picks.

[kimzey59]

Lol I think Army should cut bait now and trade Jiricek while he can preferably before his 19th birthday is a 5th round pick fair? I mean the prognostications don't look good at all, career 7th-8th dman at best if Army is lucky. Can't believe one of the better amateur dept in the NHL took the bait on this kid. Gosh.

Because melodrama and snark is really going to help this discussion.

16 Jiricek RHD- 27 Games played, 12 points(OHL)
17 Terik Parascak RW- 59 games played, 84 points(WHL)
18 Sacha Boisvert C- 37 gp, 32 points(NCAA)
19 Trevor Connelly LW- 23 GP, 13 points(NCAA + 4 points in 6 AHL games)
20 Cole Eiserman LW- 39 gp, 36 points/25 goals(NCAA)
21 Michael Hage, C- 33GP, 34 points(NCAA)
22 Yegor Surin C- 12 gp, 17 points (MHL) 41 gp, 14 points (KHL)
23 Stian Solberg LHD- 47 gp, 12 points(SHL) 10 gp, 5 points (AHL)

Nobody is saying to dump Jiricek off just yet; but he did not have a good year.
Meanwhile, Connelly aside; the guys drafted right after him put up some fairly impressive seasons.
The stats don't lie on that subject.
And a LOT of those kids play positions we could use some depth at.

Jiricek could absolutely still turn things around and turn into a top 4 RHD. But it's absolutely fair to question the pick when there's 2 point per game centers and a high end goal scorer within 5 picks of his slot.

[skilles]

So for me(and I admittedly don't follow Jr hockey) this should not really be that surprising right? We knew these concerns and we knew some other guys were way closer in a lot of ways right? However I thought these things were what kept him out of the top 5? I was kind of under the impression we knew these concerns. So what is the upside? Why was a player with these known problems not only projected so high but also drafted so high?

[stryker16]

They should have done whatever they had to do to move up to 12 and steal Buium from the Wild. Would have given up 16 and this year’s 1st, top 10 protected of course.

[skilles]

They should have done whatever they had to do to move up to 12 and steal Buium from the Wild. Would have given up 16 and this year’s 1st, top 10 protected of course.

Buium doesn't seem to have progressed really...at least stat wise.

[STL fan in MN]

So for me(and I admittedly don't follow Jr hockey) this should not really be that surprising right? We knew these concerns and we knew some other guys were way closer in a lot of ways right? However I thought these things were what kept him out of the top 5? I was kind of under the impression we knew these concerns. So what is the upside? Why was a player with these known problems not only projected so high but also drafted so high?

We’re not talking about the issues he had in his draft season, we’re talking about the new issues he had this season. 4-5 new, additional injuries. Perhaps one of them was related to the blown out knee but the others weren’t. And his play was very inconsistent when he did play.

At no point was he really ever considered top-5 last season.

The upside is he’s tallish and skates well. Shows some flashes of skill. There’s something to work with there. But there’s also lots of risks, red flags and injuries.

[STL fan in MN]

They should have done whatever they had to do to move up to 12 and steal Buium from the Wild. Would have given up 16 and this year’s 1st, top 10 protected of course.

Buium doesn't seem to have progressed really...at least stat wise.

That’s why actually watching the games matter. He scored basically the same amount of points in college both seasons but he progressed a bit IMO. But tbh, he simply maintained the same level of excellence IMO. Then finished up the season playing for the Wild and then 4 pts in 8 games for the US in the World Championships, with the US winning Gold. Jiricek on the other hand wasn’t even considered for a much weaker Czech team.

That said, Buium was picked before Jiricek. It’s the guys picked after him (many of which kimzey already highlighted) that I’d compare him to.

[skilles]

They should have done whatever they had to do to move up to 12 and steal Buium from the Wild. Would have given up 16 and this year’s 1st, top 10 protected of course.

Buium doesn't seem to have progressed really...at least stat wise.

That’s why actually watching the games matter. He scored basically the same amount of points in college both seasons but he progressed a bit IMO. But tbh, he simply maintained the same level of excellence IMO. Then finished up the season playing for the Wild and then 4 pts in 8 games for the US in the World Championships, with the US winning Gold. Jiricek on the other hand wasn’t even considered for a much weaker Czech team.

That said, Buium was picked before Jiricek. It’s the guys picked after him (many of which kimzey already highlighted) that I’d compare him to.

Agreed, I don't think they were giving up that pick for anything reasonable or lots of teams would have been all over it.

[skilles]

So for me(and I admittedly don't follow Jr hockey) this should not really be that surprising right? We knew these concerns and we knew some other guys were way closer in a lot of ways right? However I thought these things were what kept him out of the top 5? I was kind of under the impression we knew these concerns. So what is the upside? Why was a player with these known problems not only projected so high but also drafted so high?

We’re not talking about the issues he had in his draft season, we’re talking about the new issues he had this season. 4-5 new, additional injuries. Perhaps one of them was related to the blown out knee but the others weren’t. And his play was very inconsistent when he did play.

At no point was he really ever considered top-5 last season.

The upside is he’s tallish and skates well. Shows some flashes of skill. There’s something to work with there. But there’s also lots of risks, red flags and injuries.

Well let's hope it works out for us/him.

[Lone_Ranger]

Disappointing news. We can't afford 1st round flops.

First, this isn't news. Second, if you read the reports on his play it's acknowledged he has talent. He's still a teenager, he turns 19 June 28. Lots and lots of runway left before he would be declared a flop.

The guy has injury issues, his brother has injury issues. It's hard to look past that. There's a trend there that doesn't go away.

So which of his injuries are chronic or are they random?

Recently he's had back to back knee injuries. I don't know if it's chronic but the Wild paid a boatload to acquire his brother in a trade but he didn't even play last year because of injuries.

[SteveR85]

Lol I think Army should cut bait now and trade Jiricek while he can preferably before his 19th birthday is a 5th round pick fair? I mean the prognostications don't look good at all, career 7th-8th dman at best if Army is lucky. Can't believe one of the better amateur dept in the NHL took the bait on this kid. Gosh.

Because melodrama and snark is really going to help this discussion.

16 Jiricek RHD- 27 Games played, 12 points(OHL)
17 Terik Parascak RW- 59 games played, 84 points(WHL)
18 Sacha Boisvert C- 37 gp, 32 points(NCAA)
19 Trevor Connelly LW- 23 GP, 13 points(NCAA + 4 points in 6 AHL games)
20 Cole Eiserman LW- 39 gp, 36 points/25 goals(NCAA)
21 Michael Hage, C- 33GP, 34 points(NCAA)
22 Yegor Surin C- 12 gp, 17 points (MHL) 41 gp, 14 points (KHL)
23 Stian Solberg LHD- 47 gp, 12 points(SHL) 10 gp, 5 points (AHL)

Nobody is saying to dump Jiricek off just yet; but he did not have a good year.
Meanwhile, Connelly aside; the guys drafted right after him put up some fairly impressive seasons.
The stats don't lie on that subject.
And a LOT of those kids play positions we could use some depth at.

Jiricek could absolutely still turn things around and turn into a top 4 RHD. But it's absolutely fair to question the pick when there's 2 point per game centers and a high end goal scorer within 5 picks of his slot.

Handedness aside, Solberg should have been the pick.

Fearing we got Jordan Schmaltz and Scott Perunovich 2.0 here with Jiricek.

[zamadoo]

I've said it elsewhere, but I actually wanted Jiricek last year and was happy we picked him. I liked him over Buium even. However, I agree that there is reasonable concern for his development. This upcoming season (and even off-season) could make or break his potential.

Some positives I see:

-He doesn't even turn 19 until Jun 28th.
-4g/8a +10 in 27 games for Brantford comes to 36pts in 82 games - not bad for someone coming back from injury on a new team (believe he started slow but was turning it on before getting hurt again).
-5a +2 in 7 games for Czech in what was I believe his first action back from injury, led his team for points by a defenseman in the tournament (I thought he looked solid in this tournament)
*As a comparison, Sam Dickinson (who I really liked, even more than Jiricek) had a worse performance at the WJC but had some pretty amazing offensive numbers for London.*
-While his stats weren't great, he was playing in the Czech men's league @ 17y/o
Here's a shift-by-shift video of him at age 17.4 with a d-pair who is twice his age:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeCayGr ... pectShifts

A big hit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sllKgt2 ... PilsHockey
Highlights from Hlinka Cup: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAfhn4G ... =HockeyCZE
Here he is working with Stancl and Jecho in the WJC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ypspy_ ... DProspects

He's a very smooth skater with great hands, excellent passing, solid positioning, smart defensive reads and decisions, who shows some physicality. Looks great vs his peers, didn't look out of place vs men.

I believe seattle mentioned he looked questionable with Brantford, contradicting some of what I said above, but I didn't watch any OHL games. The main concern going forward is health and how that affects his development.

[kimzey59]

Lol I think Army should cut bait now and trade Jiricek while he can preferably before his 19th birthday is a 5th round pick fair? I mean the prognostications don't look good at all, career 7th-8th dman at best if Army is lucky. Can't believe one of the better amateur dept in the NHL took the bait on this kid. Gosh.

Because melodrama and snark is really going to help this discussion.

16 Jiricek RHD- 27 Games played, 12 points(OHL)
17 Terik Parascak RW- 59 games played, 84 points(WHL)
18 Sacha Boisvert C- 37 gp, 32 points(NCAA)
19 Trevor Connelly LW- 23 GP, 13 points(NCAA + 4 points in 6 AHL games)
20 Cole Eiserman LW- 39 gp, 36 points/25 goals(NCAA)
21 Michael Hage, C- 33GP, 34 points(NCAA)
22 Yegor Surin C- 12 gp, 17 points (MHL) 41 gp, 14 points (KHL)
23 Stian Solberg LHD- 47 gp, 12 points(SHL) 10 gp, 5 points (AHL)

Nobody is saying to dump Jiricek off just yet; but he did not have a good year.
Meanwhile, Connelly aside; the guys drafted right after him put up some fairly impressive seasons.
The stats don't lie on that subject.
And a LOT of those kids play positions we could use some depth at.

Jiricek could absolutely still turn things around and turn into a top 4 RHD. But it's absolutely fair to question the pick when there's 2 point per game centers and a high end goal scorer within 5 picks of his slot.

Handedness aside, Solberg should have been the pick.

Fearing we got Jordan Schmaltz and Scott Perunovich 2.0 here with Jiricek.

Boisvert and Hage are the two I’d be more interested in. Either one solidifies our middle 6 centers going forward and makes this year’s pick an extremely easy one to make(Hensler or Brusty, and it’s such an easy pick to make).

[BalotelliMassive]

18 Sacha Boisvert C- 37 gp, 32 points(NCAA)

The future 2nd line center of the Blackhawks who's heading to Boston for next season.

Boisvert is a goalscorer. A deceptive wrister and powerful one-timer make him a threat from distance, while his net-front skills and off-puck timing drive his in-tight finishing. He can also make just about every pass in the book, easily navigating layers of sticks with slip and saucer passes, even off the backhand. The passing skills appear mostly off the rush, finding cross-ice targets for high-value entries and faking the shot to prepare the cross-slot lane. -EliteProspects 2024 NHL Draft Guide


You could often find Sacha Boisvert wearing one of two things growing up: hockey gloves or boxing gloves. His dad, Jimmy, owns Club Performance, a taekwondo and boxing gym in Trois-Rivières, halfway between Montreal and Quebec City where the Saint Lawrence and Saint-Maurice rivers intersect. He competed in kickboxing and taekwondo world championships (winning a bronze at one), has trained some of Quebec’s top boxers, and has made and fought in high-level boxing matches.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/549858 ... nhl-draft/

[STL fan in MN]

I've said it elsewhere, but I actually wanted Jiricek last year and was happy we picked him. I liked him over Buium even. However, I agree that there is reasonable concern for his development. This upcoming season (and even off-season) could make or break his potential.

Some positives I see:

-He doesn't even turn 19 until Jun 28th.
-4g/8a +10 in 27 games for Brantford comes to 36pts in 82 games - not bad for someone coming back from injury on a new team (believe he started slow but was turning it on before getting hurt again).
-5a +2 in 7 games for Czech in what was I believe his first action back from injury, led his team for points by a defenseman in the tournament (I thought he looked solid in this tournament)
*As a comparison, Sam Dickinson (who I really liked, even more than Jiricek) had a worse performance at the WJC but had some pretty amazing offensive numbers for London.*
-While his stats weren't great, he was playing in the Czech men's league @ 17y/o
Here's a shift-by-shift video of him at age 17.4 with a d-pair who is twice his age:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeCayGr ... pectShifts

A big hit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sllKgt2 ... PilsHockey
Highlights from Hlinka Cup: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAfhn4G ... =HockeyCZE
Here he is working with Stancl and Jecho in the WJC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ypspy_ ... DProspects

He's a very smooth skater with great hands, excellent passing, solid positioning, smart defensive reads and decisions, who shows some physicality. Looks great vs his peers, didn't look out of place vs men.

I believe seattle mentioned he looked questionable with Brantford, contradicting some of what I said above, but I didn't watch any OHL games. The main concern going forward is health and how that affects his development.

He looked very out of place against men. Had absolutely no business being in the Czech Extraliga at age 17. In 19 games, he had 0 goals, 1 assist and was -10. He got absolutely owned and scouts were starting to question him. Then he got absolutely trucked and knocked out with a bad concussion and that ended his season in that league. Here’s a link to the hit:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C0PQFZY ... rce=igweb

That happened on 11/29/23. He missed a month. His next game back was the 1st game of the WJC, where he blew out his knee:
https://www.tiktok.com/@martinoscz/vid ... 711368481

He was then pretty inconsistent in the OHL this season. As for his pro readiness, I’ll note that when the OHL season ended, the Blues sent Lukas Fischer to AHL Springfield even though he was drafted behind Jiricek and is even younger than Jiricek. Jiricek’s season ended a few days later and they never sent him to Springfield. Perhaps he was injured yet again? Idk, but it’s not a good look they didn’t even send their most recent 1st rounder to Springfield when he was eligible to. Even if he wasn’t going to play but just to soak in the AHL playoff push and AHL playoffs would’ve been good for him. Yet the Blues chose to just leave him at home.

I’m really hoping to see a good year out of him. And hear reports of him being a beast in the gym this summer. He really needs a good year. This next season will be his last in Jrs. He really needs to make it a good one so he can be ready for the AHL in 2026-27. He’s actually AHL eligible for this next season at 19 for the same reason Dvorsky was but he’s not remotely AHL ready so I’d be pretty shocked if that’s where the Blues end up assigning him. I wish him well.

[Harry S Deals]

Lol I think Army should cut bait now and trade Jiricek while he can preferably before his 19th birthday is a 5th round pick fair? I mean the prognostications don't look good at all, career 7th-8th dman at best if Army is lucky. Can't believe one of the better amateur dept in the NHL took the bait on this kid. Gosh.

Because melodrama and snark is really going to help this discussion.

16 Jiricek RHD- 27 Games played, 12 points(OHL)
17 Terik Parascak RW- 59 games played, 84 points(WHL)
18 Sacha Boisvert C- 37 gp, 32 points(NCAA)
19 Trevor Connelly LW- 23 GP, 13 points(NCAA + 4 points in 6 AHL games)
20 Cole Eiserman LW- 39 gp, 36 points/25 goals(NCAA)
21 Michael Hage, C- 33GP, 34 points(NCAA)
22 Yegor Surin C- 12 gp, 17 points (MHL) 41 gp, 14 points (KHL)
23 Stian Solberg LHD- 47 gp, 12 points(SHL) 10 gp, 5 points (AHL)

Nobody is saying to dump Jiricek off just yet; but he did not have a good year.
Meanwhile, Connelly aside; the guys drafted right after him put up some fairly impressive seasons.
The stats don't lie on that subject.
And a LOT of those kids play positions we could use some depth at.

Jiricek could absolutely still turn things around and turn into a top 4 RHD. But it's absolutely fair to question the pick when there's 2 point per game centers and a high end goal scorer within 5 picks of his slot.

Bc its still pretty ridiculous to claim the pick is a bust at 18 yrs old when his coach Jay McKee for one who is around the kid and knows him far better than a random Blues forum poster(s) do, says he is great. We can all agree Jiricek's next OHL season needs to be far far better than his first OHL season. When he did finally settle in with Brantford he played well but initial injuries, then WJC and more set backs stopped him from gaining much traction. If these set backs are all related to the same initial injury AND he doesnt follow the Blues plan for him this Summer AND he cannot stay on the ice next season then that is concerning. Hes already added muscle and he obviously needs to continue with this plan and Im sure he will and Im sure he will have a great season in '25-'26