ADAM JIRICEK

Defense
6’1/152
Right
HC Plzen/Czechia

Related: Anton Silayev

The younger brother of Columbus’ No. 6 pick David Jiricek is a very good prospect in his own right who got games at the top Czech level this season. He’s not as big or physical as his brother, but he’s a better skater. Adam has good four-way mobility, an active disposition, balanced shooting mechanics, an eye for spacing and identifying opportunities to jump on both sides of the puck, and legitimate skill with the puck. He feels a little rawer than the defensemen in front of him here to me, but some are higher. Jiricek has been a mainstay of Czechia’s international team; he represent them at both the U17 WHC and U18 WJC, but only played a minor role on the team. Adam Jiricek at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup became a crucial part of Czechia, putting up 3 points in 5 games, and was one of their best players. Jiricek has struggled this season, hesitation has plagued his on-puck game in our viewings and the flashes of confidence and offensive play-driving he showed at the Hlinka over the summer have been few and far between in league play this year, both at the pro and U20 levels. That said, his tools forced our hand in keeping him inside our top 15.

Size/Strength Good
Skating Good
Shot/Scoring Average
Puckhandling Average
Physical Play Great
Offensive Play Good
Defensive Play Great
Hockey Sense Great
Competitiveness Great

Strengths

1. Few sub-160 lbs players are as vicious on a shift-to-shift basis as the younger Jiricek, his physicality is already a clear strength so once he adds 30-40 lbs to his frame, he’s going to be a scary sight.
2. He’s got good four-way mobility, an active disposition, balanced shooting mechanics, an eye for spacing and identifying opportunities to jump on both sides of the puck, and legit skill with the puck.
3. He covers a lot of ice despite his awkward stride mechanics and his strong edgework allows him to fluidly redirect his momentum, allowing him to physically adapt very quickly.

Areas of Improvement

1. He needs to work on his composure and decision-making pace.
2. his anticipation doesn’t yet allow him to fully weaponize his skillset.

Scouting Report

The younger brother of Columbus’ No. 6 pick David Jiricek is a very good prospect in his own right who got games at the top Czech level this season. Jiricek has struggled this season, hesitation has plagued his on-puck game and the flashes of confidence and offensive play-driving he showed at the Hlinka over the summer have been few and far between in league play this year, both at the pro and U20 levels. Few sub-160 lbs players are as vicious on a shift-to-shift basis as the younger Jiricek, his physicality is already a clear strength so once he adds 30-40 lbs to his frame, he’s going to be a scary sight. He uses his physicality intelligently too, always looking to separate a player from the puck. He covers a lot of ice despite his awkward stride mechanics and his strong edgework allows him to fluidly redirect his momentum, allowing him to physically adapt very quickly, but his anticipation doesn’t yet allow him to fully weaponize this tool. When he’s confident and making quick decisions, Jiricek has all the tools to become a capable two-way #2 or #3 defenseman, but questions remain for us. He still has some things to improve upon, most of which pertain to the mental side of the game. From missing secondary scoring threats to becoming a deer in the headlights under pressure while stationary, Jiricek has a few hurdles to overcome, but we have seen enough flashes to believe that there is a real chance he does so. Adam Jiricek is comparable to Charlie McAvoy in his playstyle, although he may take longer to be NHL-ready than McAvoy. That said, his tools forced our hand in keeping him inside our top 15, and with his sky-high potential, he could very well be a top 10 pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. if he has a strong second half of the season.

Skill: Toolsy and violent two-way defenceman with a strong skating ability

NHL Comparable: Charlie McAvoy

NHL Potential: Top 4 Two-way defenseman

Season	Team	League	GP	G	PTS
2022-23	HC Plzen U20	Czechia U20	41	12	29
	HC Plzen	Czechia	12	0	2
	Czechia 18 (all)	International-Jr	14	0	4
2023-24	HC Plzen	Czechia	19	0	1
	Czechia U18	Hlinka Gretzky Cup	5	0	3

Bet Now