After a middling start in the NHL with Columbus, the 21-year-old former first-round pick is getting a fresh look from the Wild.

Minnesota Wild President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Bill Guerin today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club 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 for defenseman Daemon Hunt,

I’m excited,” Jiricek said. “I heard it’s a hockey state, so that’s the first thing I know. And the second is it’s frickin’ cold out here."

Expected to be assigned to Iowa initially, the Wild are planning to add Jiricek to their collection of young blue line talent alongside Brock Faber and Zeev Buium.

With the David Jiricek trade now complete, it's time to give the Blue Jackets and Wild grades for their parts in the deal.

The Columbus Blue Jackets have officially traded David Jiricek to the Minnesota Wild. The #CBJ get Daemon Hunt and draft picks from #MNWild for David Jiricek, per @PierreVLeBrun.

Back again with another NHL 25 trade simulation, today we look at the Columbus Blue Jackets sending defenseman David Jiricek to the Minnesota Wild for Daemon Hunt and draft picks. Jiricek was the sixth overall pick in the 2022 NHL draft and was reportedly unhappy with his situation in Columbus.