Blue Jackets' David Jiricek: Headed back to minors
Rotowire
Jiricek was returned to AHL Cleveland on Wednesday.
Jiricek logged 20:13 of ice time in Tuesday's clash with Philadelphia in which he garnered one shot, two blocks and one hit. In his four NHL contests this year, the Czech blueliner has yet to register his first NHL point. Given the lengthy list of injuries for the Jackets, Jiricek will likely be recalled before the team faces Pittsburgh on Thursday.
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Blue Jackets' David Jiricek: Earns NHL promotion
Rotowire
Jiricek was brought up from the minors Tuesday.
Jiricek has played in three NHL games this season in which he recorded four shots, eight hits and a minus-5 rating. With Nick Blankenburg (ankle) likely done for the season, both Jiricek and Jake Christiansen should be expected to suit up for Tuesday's clash with the Flyers.
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Blue Jackets' David Jiricek: Ascends to top level
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Jiricek was recalled from AHL Cleveland on Saturday, Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site reports.
Jiricek is considered a big part of the Blue Jackets' future, as he was drafted sixth overall in 2022. He played a couple of games with Columbus in late October but has spent most of the season at the AHL level. Jiricek has six goals and 32 assists in 51 AHL games this season.
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Blue Jackets' David Jiricek: Returns to AHL Cleveland
Rotowire
Jiricek was reassigned to AHL Cleveland on Saturday, Mark Scheig of The Hockey Writers reports.
Jiricek made his third NHL appearance Saturday versus the Rangers in a 4-0 shutout loss. He'll rejoin Cleveland's pursuit of an AHL playoff spot.
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Blue Jackets' David Jiricek: Headed for World Juniors
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Jiricek will play for the Czech team at the World Junior Championship, beginning Dec. 26 in Halifax, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports.
The sixth overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, Jiricek has had a strong start to his pro career this season with four goals and 16 points in 16 games for AHL Cleveland, in addition to going without a point in his first two NHL contests. The 19-year-old is expected to be one of the top players on a Czech team that also includes fellow Columbus prospects Stanislav Svozil (third round in 2021) and Martin Rysavy (seventh round in 2021). With the Blue Jackets playing for little beyond better lottery odds of landing Connor Bedard in next year's draft, Jiricek could see more action at the top level later in the season.
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Blue Jackets' David Jiricek: Returns to AHL
Rotowire
Jiricek was reassigned to AHL Cleveland on Friday.
This is a bit odd given that Jiricek was recalled earlier in the day. However, briefly having Jiricek on the roster created an additional $1 million to Columbus' long-term injured performance bonus pool, according to CapFriendly. He had no points and a minus-4 rating in two games with Columbus during a previous NHL stint. While returning Jiricek to the minors, Columbus also promoted fellow defenseman Jake Christiansen.
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Blue Jackets' David Jiricek: Recalled Friday
Rotowire
Jiricek was recalled from AHL Cleveland on Friday.
The Blue Jackets were decimated with injuries to their blue line Thursday as Zach Werenski (shoulder) and Nick Blankenburg (ankle) were lost for the year and 6-8 weeks, respectively. Jiricek was drafted sixth overall in July 2022 and played a couple of games at the end of October with the Blue Jackets before he was demoted this past week.
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Blue Jackets' David Jiricek: Dropped to AHL
Rotowire
Jiricek was demoted to AHL Cleveland on Sunday.
Jiricek averaged 15:31 of ice time and posted a minus-4 rating over his first two NHL appearances. The 18-year-old defenseman should see more playing time in the minors for now.
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Blue Jackets' David Jiricek: Promoted to NHL
Rotowire
Jiricek was recalled from AHL Cleveland on Wednesday.
Jiricek has four assists in five AHL contests this season. Columbus selected the 18-year-old defender in the first round, sixth overall, of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. Jiricek should get a chance to make his NHL debut during his stint with the Blue Jackets because of injuries to Adam Boqvist (foot) and Nick Blankenburg (upper body).
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Blue Jackets' David Jiricek: Could make NHL debut this year
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Blue Jackets coach Brad Larsen didn't rule out Jiricek seeing time in the NHL this season after the 18-year-old defenseman was assigned to AHL Cleveland rather than being sent back to Czechia to continue his development, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports.
"The more I watched him in camp, the more I was like... he's got to be here [in North America]," Larsen said Tuesday. "If he's doing well, we can get him in the [NHL] lineup. When that's going to be, I don't know. He'll dictate that." Jiricek impressed in his first training camp with the Jackets, and with the sixth overall pick in the 2022 Draft already signed to an entry-level contract, the team has little reason to delay his promotion if he proves he's ready during his time in the AHL.
