Why the Montreal Canadiens should target David Jiricek

The Montreal Canadiens are building the ship the proper way, starting with a foundation and adding pieces to make it unsinkable.

Kent Hughes vows to keep the prospect group and draft picks in hand, instead of trading away assets to acquire a quick-fix solution. While I think this makes a ton of sense, I think that trading for a young age-specific defenseman, should the cost be fathomable is a viable option. If it's true that Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell isn't attached to the player, Hughes should give him a call.

Sure the Habs have Justin Barron, David Reinbacher and Logan Mailloux in the fold, but adding another high-potential right-shot defender to the fold couldn't hurt anything. In Jiricek, the Canadiens would be bringing another top-10 pick to the fold. Jircek has 84 games of American Hockey League experience under his belt, the Czechia product has 13-14-57 totals in that time.

He has also played 52 National Hockey League games, tallying 1-10 -11 totals. The general manager of the Columbus Blue Jackets when they drafted Jiricek in 2022 was Jarmo Kekalainen and he is no longer calling the shot. Current general manager Don Waddell, who was hired on May 28, 2024, is reportedly not as high on Jiricek as Kekalainen was.

If that is in fact true, then I don't see what it would hurt to inquire about his availability and cost. Hughes has shown to be fair with trade offers and hasn't hesitated to make trades that bring in players that fit the timeline. Jiricek is only 20 years old, and with a little patience in Laval under Pascal Vincent he could benefit from the development first culture.

I would be a big fan of a move for Jiricek, and understand that it could come at a cost, but there are some guys that I would consider moving for a 6-3 and 200-plus pound defender. I don't see having too much talent as a problem; if another area on the team needs to be addressed, then you can trade from a surplus of defenders. I think it's a move that would challenge the other guys, and whoever loses the battle gets weeded out.

There's a spot available

Jiricek's fortunes could turn out well in Montreal, with David Reinbacher out injured and Logan Mailloux down in Laval. As for the NHL, Justin Barron was out with a lower-body injury, missing three games, but in his return, he was a minus-two. Mailloux is the likeliest to get the call-up, but staying down in Laval to work on his defensive game makes a lot of sense.

With no clear-cut right-shot defender in the fold after David Savard, adding Jiricek could help improve the offence on the blueline. While he could be given the patience to iron out his two-way game, which will only benefit both parties. Because Montreal is trying to build slowly but surely, they can allow Jiricek to develop at the pass that best suits him.

Players who go sixth overall aren't traded very often, so the cost could be pretty significant, but the Habs could look pretty good with another high-potential right-shot defender in the system. The prospect of that has to be a bit interesting to Hughes. I can't imagine that he doesn't listen to a pitch and try to work something out.