The most difficult decision for coaches and management will likely be on defense, where
David Jiricek, the No. 6 pick in 2022, has clearly been one of the Blue Jackets’ top six defensemen during the three-week camp and exhibition season.
But the Blue Jackets have to keep Jiricek’s development as the priority, which means they have to decide if he would have a big enough role in Columbus to justify putting him in the NHL as a 19-year-old, or if his development should continue in AHL Cleveland, at least at the start of the season.
“It’s a very good question,” Vincent said, “and it’s a question we ask ourselves all the time.
“There is value to him practicing with the big guys and being around the big guys, playing with them. But to me, if he can’t play heavy minutes — and I’d say it needs to be 16 minutes (per night) — would it make sense to keep him (in Columbus)?”
Jiricek played with the NHL lineup in Saturday’s preseason finale against
Washington, and he opened the game — and played several shifts — on the No. 1 pair with Werenski. That’s a strong indication, perhaps, that he’s made the club, but Vincent said the decision is still to be made. He played 15:06, with no shots on goal and no special teams ice time.
“Nobody has ever seen a guy spend more time in the AHL and have it make a negative impact on his career,” Vincent said. “That’s never happened. But bringing a guy (up to the NHL) too early? That’s happened. We’ve all seen that.
“He’s a diamond. He’s gonna be a great defenseman, a top-four guy. But we have to do what’s best for him. He might be with us (in Columbus). We want the best players, too. If he’s (one of our six) best, we want to keep him. But first, we need to protect him.”
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