Minnesota Wild acquires defenseman David Jiricek from Columbus

Jiricek, 21 (11/28/03), has one assist in six games with Columbus this season and three points (2-1=3) in four games with the Cleveland Monsters (AHL). The 1.80 meter tall, 90 kilogram native of Klatovy, Czech Republic, scored 10 points (1-9=10) and 22 penalty minutes (PIM) in 43 games with the Blue Jackets in the 2023/24 season. He ranked 9th in assists and 11th in scoring among NHL rookie defensemen. Jiricek also scored 19 points (7-12=19) in 29 games with Cleveland and added 11 points (3-8=11) in 14 Calder Cup playoff games during the 2023-24 season. During the Calder Cup Playoffs, he ranked third among AHL blueliners in scoring and fourth in assists.

The right back made his NHL debut on October 28, 2022 against the Boston Bruins and scored his first career NHL goal on October 14, 2023 against the New York Rangers (Igor Shesterkin). He recorded 11 points (1-10=11) and 28 PIM in 53 career NHL games with Columbus (2022-24). Jiricek scored 60 points (15-45=60), including six power play goals (PPG), 168 shots on goal and 59 PIM, in 88 career AHL games with Cleveland (2022-24).

He represented Czech Republic at the 2021, 2022 (silver medal) and 2023 IIHF World Junior Championships and at the 2022 IIHF World Championship (bronze medal). Jiricek was named the top defenseman of the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship and was named to the tournament’s All-Star team. He was selected by Columbus in the first round (sixth overall) of the 2022 NHL Draft.

Hunt, 21 (5/15/22), was selected by Minnesota in the third round (65th overall) of the 2020 NHL Draft. He collected one assist in 13 games over parts of two seasons with the Wild (2023-24) and recorded 45 points (6-39=45) and 48 PIM in 125 games over parts of four AHL seasons (2020-24). Iowa.