Blue Jackets' David Jiricek: Grabs helper in season debut
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Jiricek notched an assist in Saturday's 3-1 loss to the Wild.
The Blue Jackets dressed seven defensemen for this contest, with Jiricek getting into the lineup over a healthy forward in Kevin Labanc. Jiricek had 11:23 of ice time, more than Jake Christiansen (10:59) and Jordan Harris (10:15) on the Columbus blue line. Jiricek made his season debut Saturday as it looks like the Blue Jackets are still taking a cautious approach with his development, but it doesn't serve him well to sit in the press box for extended stretches as a 20-year-old. If he isn't playing regularly in the NHL, he may be better off heading to AHL Cleveland.
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Blue Jackets' David Jiricek: Sent down Tuesday
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Jiricek was reassigned to AHL Cleveland on Tuesday.
Jiricek played in the Blue Jackets' last seven games of the season, picking up just one assist in that span. He had 10 points over 43 outings at the NHL level this year, positioning him well to take a full-time job with the Blue Jackets in 2024-25.
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Blue Jackets' David Jiricek: Summoned from minors
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Jiricek was brought up from AHL Cleveland on Tuesday.
Jiricek joins the Blue Jackets on an emergency basis after the team returned Jake Christiansen to the minors earlier in the day. The 20-year-old Jiricek has one goal, nine points, 33 shots on net and 39 blocked shots in 36 NHL outings this campaign. He will probably be in the lineup Thursday versus the Islanders because it's still unclear when Adam Boqvist (upper body) will be available to return.
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Blue Jackets' David Jiricek: Sent back to AHL
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Jiricek was assigned to AHL Cleveland on Saturday.
Jiricek ended up being a healthy scratch in Friday's 6-1 loss to Colorado because Zach Werenski (lower body) was able to play. The 20-year-old Jiricek has nine points, 39 blocked shots and 22 hits in 36 NHL outings this season. He also has seven goals and 17 points over 24 AHL appearances during the 2023-24 campaign.
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Blue Jackets' David Jiricek: Up from minors
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Jiricek was called up from AHL Cleveland on Thursday, per CapFriendly.
Jiricek has a goal and nine points in 36 contests with Columbus this season. He's also recorded seven goals and 17 points in 24 outings with Cleveland. He could draw into the lineup Friday against the Avalanche.
Blue Jackets' David Jiricek: Returned to AHL affiliate
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Jiricek was reassigned to AHL Cleveland on Thursday, Brian Hedger of The Columbus Dispatch reports.
Jiricek evidently isn't happy with the Blue Jackets' decision to demote him, but the team feels like his development will be best served by logging heavy minutes in the minors rather than limited playing time at the top level. The 20-year-old rookie has picked up nine points through 36 NHL contests this season.
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Blue Jackets' David Jiricek: Recalled Sunday
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Jiricek was recalled from AHL Cleveland on Sunday.
After he was sent down Thursday, Jiricek will now rejoin the Blue Jackets prior to their game Tuesday in Edmonton. The sixth overall pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft is still looking to get his feet under him in the NHL. The 20-year-old blueliner has a goal and nine points through 36 games this season.
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Blue Jackets' David Jiricek: Will rejoin team for road trip
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Jiricek was informed that he would rejoin the Blue Jackets when they begin a road trip Tuesday in Edmonton, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports.
The 20-year-old blueliner had been a healthy scratch for his last two contests with Columbus before being sent to AHL Cleveland on Thursday. Jiricek will stay sharp by playing two games with the Monsters before being recalled, and while he could simply return to the press box with the Jackets, it would seem counter-productive for the team to deny one of its top prospects consistent ice time, either in the NHL or AHL.
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Blue Jackets' David Jiricek: Sent down to minors
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Jiricek was reassigned to AHL Cleveland on Thursday.
Jiricek's demotion will allow the team to activate Boone Jenner (jaw) off injured reserve ahead of Friday's matchup with the Devils. The 20-year-old Jiricek may not have to wait long in the minors, as the Jackets put Spencer Martin on waivers Thursday indicating the team could bring back Jiricek shortly to provide some extra defensive depth.
Blue Jackets' David Jiricek: First career two-point game
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Jiricek put up two assists in Thursday's 6-5 overtime win over the Maple Leafs.
Both were secondary assists, but they still count the same. And they marked his first career two-point game in the NHL. Jiricek is a tremendous talent who has managed seven points, including six assists, in 26 games this season. Those are modest totals, of course. But what's really impressive is that Jiricek has a plus-1 rating on a team with a minus-18 goal differential on the season. Only the Canadiens are worse in the Eastern conference. Jiricek is going to play a significant role in Ohio once the team starts to put the pieces together. You might be able to scoop him in a dynasty deal if his manager is weary of the Columbus experience.
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Blue Jackets' David Jiricek: Rises to top level
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As expected, Jiricek was recalled by the Blue Jackets on Monday, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports.
Jiricek should draw into a bottom-four role for Tuesday's game versus Pittsburgh. The 19-year-old rookie has picked up three points while averaging just 13:34 of ice time through 10 top-level appearances this year.
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Blue Jackets' David Jiricek: Should return to NHL this week
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Jiricek has been told by the Blue Jackets he'll be recalled to the NHL roster after Sunday's game against the Rangers, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports.
The teenage blueliner has given Columbus solid shifts this season, producing a goal and three points in 10 games with an even plus/minus rating for a team that has a minus-11 goal differential, the worst mark in the Eastern Conference. A roster crunch prompted Jiricek's demotion to AHL Cleveland on Saturday to make room for the return of Patrik Laine, but it seems as though his stay in the minors will be a brief one. As Jiricek has already played 10 NHL games in 2023-24, the first year of his entry-level contract has kicked in, giving the Jackets little incentive to keep him in the AHL.
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Blue Jackets' David Jiricek: Returned to AHL affiliate
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Jiricek was sent to AHL Cleveland on Saturday.
The 19-year-old defenseman will be a huge part of the Blue Jackets future, but Jiricek needs to be seeing ample playing time at this stage of his career. He wasn't getting it with Columbus, as he was a healthy scratch for the last two contests. Jiricek had a goal and two assists in 10 games at the NHL level before his demotion.
Blue Jackets' David Jiricek: Collects helper in loss
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Jiricek picked up an assist in Saturday's 2-1 loss to the Capitals.
The 19-year-old blueliner has become a fixture in the Columbus lineup since getting promoted from AHL Cleveland, playing in 10 straight games while providing a goal and two helpers, plus six shots on net, six hits, 12 blocked shots, six PIM and an even plus/minus rating. Jiricek has more offensive upside than that, but for now, the Jackets are content to let the 2022 sixth overall pick get his feet wet in the NHL.
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Blue Jackets' David Jiricek: First NHL goal wins game
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Jiricek scored a goal in a 5-3 win over the Rangers on Saturday.
It was his first NHL point in his fifth career contest, and it stood as the game-winner. Jiricek took a cross-ice pass and fired an absolute rocket from the top of the right circle. He's the 14th teenager in franchise history to score a goal. Jiricek figures to see a regular shift as long as Zach Werenski (quadriceps) is sidelined, but if the sixth overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft continues to play well, he may not head back to AHL Cleveland.
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Blue Jackets' David Jiricek: Ascends to top level
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Jiricek was recalled from AHL Cleveland on Friday.
The move was necessitated when Zach Werenski suffered a quad contusion Thursday and was placed on injured reserve. Jiricek is highly regarded -- he was selected sixth overall in the 2022 Draft. Jiricek played in four NHL games last season without a point, but he had six goals and 32 assists in 55 AHL games last year.
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Blue Jackets' David Jiricek: Sent to AHL
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Jiricek was assigned to AHL Cleveland on Monday.
Jiricek was among the final roster cuts following a strong showing during training camp. He provided six goals and 38 points in 55 games at the minor-league level last season. The 19-year-old defender could see NHL action at some point in 2023-24.
