Acquisition: Kyle Davidson can land deal of the year with acquisition of 6th overall pick David Jiricek
The Chicago Blackhawks are in the process where they're done selling and are near the end of adding pieces through the draft.
Now, the Blackhawks are looking to make some trades, signings, and try to improve the team, as they're doing tanking.
On the 32 Thoughts Podcast today, Elliotte Friedman said that top prospect David Jiricek is «unhappy» with the Columbus Blue Jackets organization and doesn't have the «same relationship» with new GM Don Waddell than Jarmo Kekalainen.
His frustration is reasonable, too. Jiricek is a top prospect and is only 20 years old. Yet, he's being healthy scratched.
Jiricek has only played five games this season so far with his last one being on November 9th. He was then scratched in the game on the 12th against the Seattle Kraken, which they lost 5-2. In those five games, David has only tallied one assist and has a -1.
And when he does play, he only gets about 11 minutes of ice time on a poor Blue Jackets team. Over the three years since he was drafted, Jiricek has only participated in 52 games. But, he's only 20.
How do the Columbus Blue Jackets expect him to develop if he doesn't get any ice time?
That's where the Blackhawks come in. The Blackhawks are very good at developing defenseman, and they have a picks and prospects surplus that should be used to their advantage.
Jiricek is clearly upset and is rotting in Columbus, so why not bail him out? He probably will cost a little bit much, as he is, after all, a sixth overall pick who has yet to have gotten any NHL time and still has a very high ceiling.
However, if Chicago can work on him and he pans out, it'll all be worth it.
