The Chicago Blackhawks have two first-round picks, one at #2 and the other at #18. While it’s going to likely be the pick of either Artyom Levshunov or Ivan Demidov at number two, who could they take at that 18th spot or potentially trade up a few more spots to snag? Chicago Hockey Now’s Future Blackhawks Prospect will be featuring a handful of prospects at that spot until the 2024 NHL Draft. Today we look at Adam Jiricek.
Adam Jiricek At A Glance
HC Plzen
17 years old (6/28/06/draft day birthday)
Games: 19
Goals-Assists-Points: 0-1-1
League/Team: Czech/HC Plzen
Jiricek is a big defenseman who plays more of a stay-at-home defenseman style. He can break out plays from his end but he is also a big physical presence on the blue line. His ceiling in the NHL matches that of the top defensive guys in the league right now. His two-way game is a bit underrated.
His older brother David was selected sixth overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2022 NHL Draft. They have very similar games and projects to be alike in the NHL.
Adam was injured during the first game of the 2023-24 World Junior Championships representing Czechia. That was the last game he played this season. His surgery has kept him out and he wasn’t able to play in the World Championships either.
Due to this lack of showcasing himself, he is falling a little bit in the draft rankings. If he were able to play the whole season, chances are that he would have been ranked way higher. That is something the Blackhawks could take advantage of if he is sitting there at pick 18.
If they take Michigan State defenseman Levshunov with the second overall pick, it is hard to see them taking a defenseman like Jiricek at 18. However, if the second overall pick becomes Demidov, Jiricek could be in consideration.
Will Adam Jiricek Actually Be There for the Blackhawks?
Because of the injuries that Adam Jiricek dealt with in 2023-24, he didn’t have the draft year that he wanted. That may allow him to fall right into the Blackhawks’ range at 18.
However, there are 16 picks between the Hawks second overall and #18. Other teams know that this kid has the potential to be a rockstar in the NHL so that might make things interesting.
In the 2023 NHL Draft, Oliver Moore fell to them at 19 when it felt like a lock that he’d be taken within the first 15 picks. Now, the Minnesota Golden Gopher speedy forward with high offensive skill is in Chicago’s pipeline. That could be Jiricek this year as a defenseman.