Let the speculation end.
After days of rumors that seemed to pick up steam with each passing hour, the Columbus Blue Jackets traded defenseman David Jiricek on Saturday, dealing the sixth overall pick from the 2022 NHL Draft to the Minnesota Wild.
In exchange for Jiricek, the Blue Jackets are acquiring Daemon Hunt, a top-five protected first-round pick in next year's (2025) NHL Draft, a third and fourth round pick in the 2026 draft, and a 2027 second round pick.
While very unlikely, if the Wild do receive a top-five pick in the 2025 NHL draft, the pick would convert to an unprotected 2026 first-rounder.
The Blue Jackets will also send a 2025 5th round pick to the Wild to complete the trade.
TRADE ALERT
— Colubus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) November 30, 2024
We've acquired D Daemon Hunt and 4 draft picks, including a conditional 2025 first-round pick, from the @mnwild in exchange for D David Jiricek and a 2025 fifth-round pick.
https://t.co/zx5iQQChlM@RuoffMortgage | #CBJ pic.twitter.com/tBF3Y1oP2D
The change of scenery will certainly be a welcome sight for both players.
Hunt, currently with the Iowa Wild (the AHL affiliate of Minnesota), was a third-round selection in the 2020 draft. The 22-year-old, 6'1", 200lb native of Brandon, Manitoba, Canada played 12 games with the Minnesota Wild last year and one game thus far this season.
He has a total of one point (an assist) in those 12 combined games. With the Iowa Wild over the last two seasons, Hunt has a combined three goals and 30 assists in 60 total games.
“Daemon is a very good, young defenseman and we are excited to welcome him to the Blue Jackets family," said President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Don Waddell.
“I’d also like to thank David (Jiricek) for his contributions during his time with our organization and wish him well.”
Over three seasons, Jiricek played in a total of 53 games with the Blue Jackets, scoring one goal and adding 10 assists for a total of 11 points.
In just six games with Columbus this season, Jiricek had one assist, a -2 plus/minus, and averaged only 11:12 per game. He was loaned to the AHL's Cleveland Monsters last week and had the game-winning goal in overtime Sunday in just his second game back with the team.
What Are The Blue Jackets Getting In Return?
Daemon Hunt may not be the level of league-wide prospect as Jiricek, but one thing that's for sure is that he plays head coach Dean Evason's style of hockey. He's a two-way defender, plays a physical game, and it's highly likely that the Blue Jackets new bench boss was consulted in acquiring a player that he's coached before.
Talked with Daemon Hunt on Nov. 13. I asked him if it was frustrating the #mnwild couldn't yet find him a spot and he was such a pro about it: I want to be in the NHL, simple as that. But everyones path is different, and right now mine is to be in the American League. Time will
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) November 30, 2024
A first-round draft pick, even though it figured to be somewhere between 20th and 30th, is not insignificant. But adding third and fourth draft picks in 2026 and a second-round pick in 2027 gives Columbus will allow them to further stock the cupboard with future assets.
"In addition to adding a very good prospect, the draft picks we’ve acquired provide us with valuable assets that we can use to improve our club moving forward," said Waddell.
Why Did The Blue Jackets Move On From Jiricek?
A few days ago, the last two years of Jiricek's frustration with the Blue Jackets — and theirs with his — was spelled out here. To sum it up, Jiricek felt (and still feels, presumably) that he is ready to be an everyday NHL player and the Blue Jackets, for the second straight managerial regime and third straight head coach, disagree.
Columbus wanted to see Jiricek develop better skating skills and felt he needed to be faster to be an NHL defenseman. Waddell said earlier in November that the club "had not seen enough" to warrant Jiricek seeing regular NHL minutes.
This created a source of frustration that, in the end, become untenable for both sides involved.
