Columbus Blue Jackets Defenseman Confirmed Best Fit for the Vancouver Canucks Amidst Trade Talks
It has been confirmed that the Columbus Blue Jackets are shopping around their former 6th overall defenseman David Jiricek, and the Vancouver Canucks may have found their upgrade.
After the The 20-year-old d-man spoke out on his feeling about being sent down to the AHL, his name has been involved in trade talks going all they way back to last season.
As it looks right now, he could be on the move any day now.
Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman has made public that even since Jiricek was sent down this season to the American Hockey League, many teams have been calling about acquiring the high overall draft pick.
Jiricek played in 43 games with Columbus last season, but the right-shot defenceman has suited up in only six games this season, recording just one assist.
First off, It is clear that the Vancouver Canucks are looking for an upgrade on their second pairing.
One thing that is necessary as well is the need of a right handed d-man.
There have been a lot of rumors surrounding big names around the NHL, but all being left-handed shots.
Jiricek is a talented, young defenseman that has a lot of potential, and it still scouted to be a top-6 defenseman in the future.
It is unconfirmed if the Canucks are one of the teams calling about Jiricek, but you would think its is almost a guarantee.
Columbus is looking for a young player or prospects in return, which the Canucks have plenty to offer up.
The 6-foot-4 defenseman is an elite skater who is scouted as an "offensively gifted defenseman who was able to carry the puck in the neutral zone and create effective zone entries."
Even at his current game, at a cap hit of just under $1 Million, and if the Canucks can get him for draft picks or a young AHLer in Abbotsford, he is already a significant upgrade to Vincent Desharnais, Noah Juulsen and Carson Soucy.
