TBF, this IS the draft to do it. If they do. If they move him, and get the 6th OVA, there are several defenseman options available in this draft that are all RHD with size, skating, and really good puck moving skills.

There's a few too many "ifs" there. Drafting is such a gamble to begin with, so at least to me if you've been lucky enough to draft a player who's starting to pan out you shouldn't play with fire.

Largely I agree but thats a separate conversation.



There are lots of players who are unhappy, but if you risk it and it doesn't pan out, you've just wasted a 6th overall pick on a guy who spoiled his own development due to character issues and refusing to report to the AHL.

All of this isn't to say that the Blue Jackets should trade Jiricek point blank. You just have to weigh the risk and reward of sticking with a guy who you are expressing some level of concern about the way he is handling things. If it's a systemic issue that theyre going to refuse to address, then what's the point in going through the same cycle again in 2 years when the guy you would draft at 6 OA instead isnt performing well in his D+2 year? But if its a specific character issue, then why, as a rebuilding team that doesnt project to compete for a couple more years anyway, invest so much in a guy who isnt happy with management when you can get what could be a draft prospect of equal upside + another late 1st? Just gotta weigh the odds at this point.

All of this just for the senators to probably shoot themselves in the foot by not selling and trying to claw back into the playoffs anyway

Is it though? There's a few too many if's there if you decide to keep him too.

We just literally saw a slew of young, prospective players, all of whom threw some weight around and all demand trades. Most if not all, got what they wished for. And waiting to move them doesn't necessarily help recoup lost value, it just lessens it.

Sure, Jiricek hasn't technically asked out yet. But that's a pretty big yet there. He's already unhappy, you run the risk of getting a player that doesn't want what your selling, regardless of whether you can smooth things over or not. The simple fact he's already unhappy and doesn't want to wait to develop and wants a starting role now is already a red flag. A huge one, at that.

Move him.

Get what you can, while you can. Let him be someone else's headache. This way, while might not get the player you already have, you'll have someone of similar potential capability if nothing else and mitigate what loss you can.

Who are you even referring to here?

I’d rather keep the teenager and hope he grows up considering he’s playing RHD, which is the hardest position to find a stud at.