March 28: Unfortunately, after additional testing, Jiricek will not be able to take part in the camp. He has been ruled out for health reasons and replaced on the camp roster by David Kvasnicka. That chance to show what he can do on the international stage will have to wait.
March 25: Among the top prospects for the 2022 draft, there are really only two defensemen that stand out as candidates to go in the top ten. One of them is Simon Nemec, the Slovakian standout who would have played in the U18 Worlds, U20 World Juniors, and the Olympics all in the same season, had COVID restrictions not put some of that action on pause. Nemec is a star in the Slovakian league already and will likely suit up for his country at the World Championships, as he did last year.
The other is David Jiricek, whose draft stock was relatively uncertain after an early injury at the World Juniors. He hasn’t played since then, meaning it wasn’t clear at all whether scouts would get another chance to see him playing at a high level before this summer’s draft. Good news, Jiricek was named today to Czechia’s training camp roster for the World Championships, suggesting he could be ready to play in the May tournament, well ahead of the July draft.
The first thing you’ll notice about Jiricek, 18, is how mobile he is for a 6’3″ defenseman, seemingly floating around the ice both with the puck and without it. In 29 games at the highest level in Czechia, he recorded five goals and 11 points, his second full season with HC Skoda Plzen, even as a teenager. While some will undoubtedly prefer Nemec when it’s all said and done, Jiricek has ranked ahead of him at several stages. At the mid-season rankings, NHL Central Scouting had Jiricek fourth among all European skaters, with Nemec sixth. Bob McKenzie’s TSN mid-season scout poll published in January also had Jiricek as the top defenseman, this time seventh (Nemec ranked ninth).
While other defensemen may still make late pushes (Pavel Mintyukov and Denton Mateychuk come to mind), Jiricek and Nemec appear to be battling for the honor of being the first blueliner off the board in July. An appearance at the World Championship, where he could be on the ice against NHL talent, would certainly give the former a chance to impress.
Of course, NHL talent that is eliminated will also be joining the group, and other more veteran names from Europe. David Krejci, for instance, is expected to join the Czechia team a week or two before the tournament.