Look, I'm going to level with you and be completely honest. I was not happy when the Flyers acquired David Jiricek. It wasn't just because I liked Bobby Brink. Every Flyers fan liked Brink for his grit and hustle. However, Brink had to go to allow younger, better players like Porter Martone and Denver Barkey a chance to come up and prove themselves. It's sad, but it's the nature of the business in sports.
No. That wasn't it. I didn't like the trade because of Jiricek himself. Like many Philadelphia sports fans, I'm not a huge fan of prima donnas. Any player who makes it all about himself automatically turns me off.
The Flyers had this issue before. Alexandre Daigle seemed more into himself than the teams he played for. He was quickly run out of the league after Philadelphia. More recently, it looks like the Flyers dodged a bullet with Cutter Gauthier after he pretty much bankrupted the Anaheim Ducks with his demands after the Flyers failed to land Leo Carlsson. You got your money. Good luck finding people to play with.
Likewise, Eric Lindros was accused of being more concerned about himself than the team. The difference there was that Lindros could back it up. He was supposed to be the face of the NHL, as well as the franchise. When he was healthy, he was. It's why he's in the Hall of Fame. But the "issues" that he was accused of didn't really become public until the injuries mounted up and the tension between him and GM Bobby Clarke spilled out of the locker room.
Jiricek was a top prospect, but not the top prospect in the 2022 NHL Draft. He was a top-five-ranked European skater and a top-three-ranked defender. Granted, the COVID pandemic screwed up how that crop of prospects developed, but Jiricek was rated high because of his speed, vision, and abilities. An injury saw him fall to the sixth pick in the draft; ironically, right after the Flyers selected Gauthier.
Through a combination of injuries, not getting along with his coaches and management, and possibly being mismanaged by team administrators, Jiricek has found himself on three teams in four years. He hasn't really made much of an impact in the NHL, nor has he been a superstar in the AHL. He was supposed to be a big bruiser who could skate and score as well. In short, it was as if he was supposed to be what Rasmus Ristolainen was supposed to become.
Where does Jiricek stand now?
Now, there is no excuse. Jiricek is currently fighting for a roster spot with Oliver Bonk. The top five spots on the roster belong to Travis Sanheim, Jamie Drysdale, Cam York, Nick Seeler, and Ristolainen. So, that last spot goes to whoever wins it between Bonk and Jiricek. However, because Bonk can still be moved back and forth to the AHL safely, you can safely bet that Jiricek has an inside track here.
Rick Tocchet has seen a lot of what the earlier scouts saw in Jiricek, notably his patience with the puck. But there is one specific area the Flyers need him to get better at.
"When there's chaos and a lot of small battles, that's where he's got to be a little bit better. I think that's what he worked on in the minors: being able to shut down plays in the corner, being able to read a play, basically to shut things down. That's things we asked him to do. Obviously, the point on the power play, he's got some good awareness, but it's the boxing out and being able to win a battle boxing out; those are the things, you know, he has to find that part in his game"
Now, Tocchet did acknowledge that they have seen some improvement since they first saw him in March. He is stepping up. Is it enough? Is he motivated to learn and play? Is he excited because he may actually crack the NHL roster full-time now?
So it comes down to this. You can't blame the coach or the teammates. You can't blame nagging injuries or how the team isn't willing to work with you. The Flyers have been high on him ever since the trade. They really feel that he can be a big part of their future. It's one reason that they locked him in with a two-year extension soon after acquiring him, before he even laced up for them in an NHL game.
Is he a bust? Let's hope not. You don't get traded so often so quickly if that isn't the case. To be honest, I'd rather make a move to acquire Alexander Nikishin from Carolina, whether that means moving Jiricek or Ristolainen.
But to be fair, the administrations in Minnesota and Columbus could've failed him. If I worked for a company that bad-mouthed me to everyone who could hear, I'd want off too.
If he is as good as the Flyers' management says, then let him flourish and fly. Let him become a holy terror to the opposing teams and help jump-start the Flyers' offense. Heck, if he can help out on the power play, we'll take that too.
However, if he is a bust, if Bonk totally outplayed him, and if he is a problem, then sell him high while you can before the bottom falls out and you can't move him for a rusty Zamboni.
I may not have been for the trade, but I am for the Flyers. If he succeeds, the team succeeds. So, I'm throwing down the gauntlet here. I challenge Jiricek to step up and kick some hockey butt and become the player that everyone said he'd be. If not, step aside and let someone who can play show up. No more excuses. No more issues. Just get down to business.
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