The Blue Jackets demoted David Jiricek to the AHL's Cleveland Monsters last week, a move that probably should have happened long ago. The good news: he reported, and played quite well over the weekend. The bad news: trade rumors are still swirling heavily here, and a move still seems imminent.
While the best outcome here is still most likely having him play with the right attitude and develop in the AHL, it's somewhat obvious that the relationship between team and player has soured to some extent. When it's obvious to the public eye, it's hard to ignore that something really is going on behind the scenes. After all, if he were willing to agreeably play in the AHL, he would have been down there weeks ago.
Instead, he stuck around Columbus for far too long, and was not in head coach Dean Evason's favor. He only got into six games, scoring just one point and averaging just over 11 minutes per appearance. That's not good.
There's a very high ceiling here ...
David Jiricek hasn't unlocked his full potential yet, not even close. But there is a really high ceiling here, that of a top pairing defenseman who can run a #1 power-play. You can see that in his game in Cleveland, where things are a little bit easier to process. In his second game down there, he had 2 points - including the game winning goal yesterday.
So, even though it hasn't worked out in Columbus yet, the Blue Jackets can't just sell him off to the highest bidder. They have to come out of a trade with something big, that will be here for the long-term. If this weren't the case, my gut says that they would have traded him weeks ago, rather than continuing to let him sit in the press box.
Lots of ways to win this kind of trade, if you're smart ...
This is why you pay your scouts. The Blue Jackets have very good amateur scouts, easily some of the best in the league. So, if they're looking for a prospect kind of deal (as is being rumored), I have no doubt that they can get an equal or greater valued return for Jiricek. Players like this are a rare commodity, and there should be no shortage of suitors here. They can ask for an equivalent prospect, and just pass until they find one they like.
The alternate option? Trading for a player that can come into the lineup and contribute immediately. I don't think they would be wise to get someone who is late in their prime (or older). But, they might be able to take advantage of a team who is pressed against the cap, but afraid to lose an RFA that might be coming up on a big deal.
Whatever happens here, the Blue Jackets cannot come out of this deal on the losing side of things. That doesn't mean they have to fleece the other side. Both sides can win a trade. But, David Jiricek is far too valuable a commodity for a team still deep in its rebuild, to trade for spare parts. They have to get a player of equal value in return. Otherwise, all of the losing over the last three years has been for nothing.