You would think at this point that the freefalling Nashville Predators are destine to be heavy sellers later on this season rather than getting in on the buyer's market.
According to numerous trade rumors, the Predators are one of a handful of teams who are showing interesting in defenseman David Jiricek of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Some notes from the Chris Johnston Show: Says there’s around 8 teams in on Jiricek. MIN is the front runner but names NSH, PIT, VAN, PHI & MTL. #CBJ will consider a pick & prospect package now. & feeling is it will happen soon. #mnwild #letsgopens #Smashville #Canucks #GoHabsGo
— NHL Trade Alert (@NHLTradeAlert) November 28, 2024
Jiricek plays at a rare and valuable position with high upside
Jiricek is a right shot defenseman, a valuable and rare commodity, and considered a young talent who can lead a team's power play and has upside potential. However, he hasn't gotten a really strong look on the NHL level yet, hence why the Blue Jackets are listening to trade offers from a bunch of teams including the Predators right now.
Interestingly enough, the Blue Jackets have already added a Predators right shot defenseman of their own from the Predators in Dante Fabbro. But they didn't have to give up anything on the trade front and instead claimed Fabbro off waivers.
The Predators defensive corps has been nothing like what was expected going into the season. First off, Spencer Stastney has not been available for the entire season due to personal reasons, and is just now getting assigned to the Milwaukee Admirals.
With Fabbro gone as well, Marc Del Gaizo has gotten a bunch of playing time while prospects Nick Blankenburg and Adam Wilsby just made their season debuts in the Predators' most recent game against the Flyers. It was Wilsby's NHL debut.
So the Predators might be looking to abandon ship and finally embrace getting younger and looking more towards the long-term future. Jiricek is just 21-years-old and a former sixth overall pick from 2022.
If the reports are true that the Blue Jackets are content with getting a high value draft pick and prospect in the deal, the Predators certainly have the assets to do that.
The Predators have more of an abundance of forward prospects, so one could be more easily expendable in a trade if they really value getting a right shot defenseman like Jiricek.
The Predators have plenty of competition to win the trade rights to Jiricek. Others teams that are said to be interested are the Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Rangers, Minnesota Wild and Ottawa Senators. There are probably others as well.
Jiricek is a tweener right now between the AHL and NHL level. He has thrived on the AHL level, but hasn't gotten a large sample size or commitment on the NHL level. So whoever trades for him will have to be willing to give this young talent a chance to play consistently on the NHL level right away. Otherwise, I don't see a point in the Predators even trading for him.
Adding Jiricek wouldn't be a trade to fix the short-term problems for the Predators, but instead signal that it's really time to fully commit to a youthful rebuild. Jiricek could end up blossoming into a top tier defenseman in a few seasons, and being a right shot defenseman makes him more valuable.
Jiricek brings a lot of offensive upside to his game, but has more developing to do on the other end of the ice with his speed and getting back to defend. So trading for him from the Predators' perspective would mean taking on a project that has high upside potential if you're willing to be patient.
Ultimately I don't see the Predators winning this trade sweepstakes for Jiricek. I'm inclinded to think Nashville really likes the current defensemen prospects they already have in the system, but they are thin at right shot defenseman, which makes Jiricek a possible option to consider.
Most of the Predators' top defensive prospects are left shot, including Tanner Molendyk, Adam Wilsby, Marc Del Gaizo and Spencer Stastney. Ryan Ufko I would consider their top right shot defensive prospect.
If the Predators do conduct a trade for Jiricek, they need to be ready to play him immediately on the NHL roster and let him develop. That would take away a spot from Blankenburg who just got called up, and leave Alexandre Carrier and Luke Schenn as your other true right shot defensemen.