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.
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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: 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: 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.
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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.
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Blue Jackets' David Jiricek: Making push for roster spot
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Jiricek skated on a pairing with Ivan Provorov during Monday's preseason game against the Blues, and Blue Jackets coach Pascal Vincent called the duo "our best defensemen" after the contest, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports.
The 19-year-old Jiricek is one of the top blue-line prospects in hockey, but he's also still eligible to be sent to AHL Cleveland without needing to clear waivers, so he's not a lock to be on the NHL roster Opening Night. The sixth overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft seems to be making a strong push in camp for a job though, and after collecting six goals and 38 points in 55 games for Cleveland last season, Jiricek could be ready for the next challenge.
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Blue Jackets' David Jiricek: Headed back to minors
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Jiricek was returned to AHL Cleveland on Wednesday.
Jiricek logged 20:13 of ice time in Tuesday's clash with Philadelphia in which he garnered one shot, two blocks and one hit. In his four NHL contests this year, the Czech blueliner has yet to register his first NHL point. Given the lengthy list of injuries for the Jackets, Jiricek will likely be recalled before the team faces Pittsburgh on Thursday.
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Blue Jackets' David Jiricek: Earns NHL promotion
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Jiricek was brought up from the minors Tuesday.
Jiricek has played in three NHL games this season in which he recorded four shots, eight hits and a minus-5 rating. With Nick Blankenburg (ankle) likely done for the season, both Jiricek and Jake Christiansen should be expected to suit up for Tuesday's clash with the Flyers.
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Blue Jackets' David Jiricek: Ascends to top level
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Jiricek was recalled from AHL Cleveland on Saturday, Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site reports.
Jiricek is considered a big part of the Blue Jackets' future, as he was drafted sixth overall in 2022. He played a couple of games with Columbus in late October but has spent most of the season at the AHL level. Jiricek has six goals and 32 assists in 51 AHL games this season.
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Blue Jackets' David Jiricek: Recalled Friday
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Jiricek was recalled from AHL Cleveland on Friday.
The Blue Jackets were decimated with injuries to their blue line Thursday as Zach Werenski (shoulder) and Nick Blankenburg (ankle) were lost for the year and 6-8 weeks, respectively. Jiricek was drafted sixth overall in July 2022 and played a couple of games at the end of October with the Blue Jackets before he was demoted this past week.
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Blue Jackets' David Jiricek: Dropped to AHL
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Jiricek was demoted to AHL Cleveland on Sunday.
Jiricek averaged 15:31 of ice time and posted a minus-4 rating over his first two NHL appearances. The 18-year-old defenseman should see more playing time in the minors for now.
