Three options the Blue Jackets have with David Jiricek, who may be running out chances
Even though things aren't working out for him in the NHL this year, David Jiricek is far from a bust.
There's still a lot of potential here, but the Jackets need to make a decision, because it can't go on like this. The team could choose to follow one of three paths.
Option 1: send David Jiricek to the AHL for a third consecutive season.
In my opinion, this is the very best option for both the Blue Jackets and David Jiricek. If you've watched the games, it's obvious that he's in over his head. His skating is still holding him back, and his decision making has been brutal at times. This has led to him being a healthy scratch more often than not, which is not helping his development. If he isn't good enough to play in this lineup, I'm not sure he'll play anywhere else, either. At least not beneficially.
It's not like we can blame poor coaching or a dysfunctional environment this year. In fact, this team has looked pretty darn cohesive for all but one or two games. The defensive zone coverage still leaves something to be desired, but I think that can be blamed as much on the lack of depth, rather than the structure being presented.
The best case scenario here would be Jiricek humbly accepting a demotion back to the Monsters, where he can be leaned upon for heavy minutes in all situations, and play alongside Denton Mateychuk. If he were to go down with the right attitude, I think the slower pace of play would allow him to gain confidence, while working out the kinks in his game that have held him back so far. Don Waddell himself has talked about keeping guys in the weeds until they're ready. But, what if David doesn't want to go down?
Option 2: status quo. Earn your ice time, David.
This is the worst option. Adding Fabbro to an already crowded blue line, just made it a lot harder for Jiricek to get into games. I have a feeling that, eventually, Fabbro is going to find his way into a top-4 role. There's a lot to like here, and I think he's a sneaky good waiver acquisition.
If that happens, we'll have Jake Christiansen, Jack Johnson, Jordan Harris, and eventually Erik Gudbranson; all battling for third pairing minutes here. I don't see any way for Jiricek to actually get on the ice in this scenario. This is why the team needs to make some kind of decision, which could go in an ultimate direction...
Option 3: David Jiricek has crazy high trade value.
I'm not advocating for the team to trade him, but if they did, I have to believe the return would be immense. This is the kind of player that has huge value around the NHL. He hasn't even turned 21 yet. Recent #6 overall pick, still on his ELC. Big, physical right-shot defenseman. David is the kind of piece teams drool over, even if he's unproven to this point.
If the team did opt to explore the trade market, I can imagine 20+ suitors lining up with tantalizing offers immediately. As mentioned on the 32 Thoughts Podcast this week, Waddell doesn't have the same level of attachment to Jiricek that previous management did. He could look to fill a hole elsewhere in the lineup, if David isn't amenable to another stint in the AHL. It's also worth noting that all 32 general managers are getting together this week for meetings. Inevitably, trade talks do pick up when that happens.
It's hard to say which direction the team is going to go here. My guess, a decision will have to wait until they get back from their west coast swing. It's not uncommon for teams to carry an extra defenseman for a long road trip. After that point, anything is possible. But, I do think they need to make a decision one way or another.
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