With Joe Smith making the selection, the Minneosta Wild take defenseman Adam Jiricek from Plzen.
“There were a few targets that were chosen right before the Wild’s pick. Cole Eiserman. Carter Yakemchuk. There was an offer to move far down in the round. But for a Wild organization still trying to figure out what they have in their blue-line prospect pool, Jirecek provides another strong option. [Injuries](https://theathletic.com/5172078/2023/12/31/adam-jiricek-injury-2024-nhl-draft/) could have led him to drop some, but he’s got the size (6-2) and two-way game.”
[https://theathletic.com/5476111/2024/05/07/nhl-mock-draft-2024-macklin-celebrini-san-jose?source=user-shared-article](https://theathletic.com/5476111/2024/05/07/nhl-mock-draft-2024-macklin-celebrini-san-jose?source=user-shared-article)
by PaxDragoon
4 Comments
I was hoping for a trade up for Levshnov but that is a pipe dream. This would definitely be a reasonable pick
I’m wary on Jiricek. Injury history, and decent, but no stand-out skills. Even in Joe’s write up, he only mentions size and two-way game (not glowingly, either). It feels way too much like last year’s pick. Unfortunately, if the draft plays out like the mock, we don’t have a ton of super exciting players available.
If we could trade up to get to Buium, that would be ideal, but but I’d be happy with Helenius or Brandsegg-Nygård. Knocking on wood that Eiserman, Yakemchuk or Iginla would be available, but not counting on it.
Jiricek seems like the most frequent mock for us. I’ve never seen him play but a 6’2 RHD does sound nice. Would still love to move up for Buium.
I don’t hate taking a defensemen because Spurgeon is getting up there and Brodin isn’t getting any younger but I just don’t have a good felling about Jiricek. Would love to get Buium or Yakemchuk though