Minnesota Wild President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Bill Guerin announced today that the team has acquired defenseman David Jiricek (YIHR-ih-chuhk) and a fifth-round selection in the 2025 NHL Draft from the Columbus Blue Jackets.
In exchange, the Wild will send defenseman Daemon Hunt, a first-round pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft (Top Five Protected), a third-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft (previously acquired from Colorado), a fourth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft (previously acquired from Toronto), and a second-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft to Columbus.
If Minnesota’s 2025 first-round pick is one of the top five selections, the Wild will retain it and instead send their 2026 first-round pick to the Blue Jackets. Jiricek will report to the Iowa Wild in the American Hockey League (AHL).
Jiricek, 21 (born November 28, 2003), has registered one assist in six games with Columbus and three points (2-1=3) in four games with the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) this season.
The 6-foot-4, 204-pound defenseman from Klatovy, Czech Republic recorded 10 points (1-9=10) and 22 penalty minutes in 43 games with the Blue Jackets during the 2023-24 season. He ranked T-9th among NHL rookie defensemen in assists and T-11th in overall scoring. Jiricek also tallied 19 points (7-12=19) in 29 games with Cleveland and contributed 11 points (3-8=11) in 14 Calder Cup Playoff games in 2023-24. He ranked third among AHL defensemen in scoring and T-4th in assists during the Calder Cup Playoffs.
The right-shot defenseman made his NHL debut on October 28, 2022, against the Boston Bruins and scored his first NHL goal on October 14, 2023, against the New York Rangers (Igor Shesterkin). Over 53 career NHL games with Columbus (2022-24), Jiricek has recorded 11 points (1-10=11) and 28 penalty minutes. In 88 career AHL games with Cleveland (2022-24), he has accumulated 60 points (15-45=60), including six power-play goals, 168 shots on goal, and 59 penalty minutes.
Jiricek represented Czechia at the 2021, 2022 (silver medal), and 2023 IIHF World Junior Championships, as well as the 2022 IIHF World Championship (bronze medal). He was named the top defenseman at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship and was also named to the tournament All-Star Team. Jiricek was selected by Columbus in the first round (sixth overall) of the 2022 NHL Draft.
Hunt, 21 (born May 15, 2002), was selected by Minnesota in the third round (65th overall) of the 2020 NHL Draft. He registered one assist in 13 games over parts of two seasons with the Wild (2023-24) and recorded 45 points (6-39=45) and 48 penalty minutes in 125 games across four AHL seasons (2020-24) with Iowa.
