The San Jose Sharks have two picks in the first round of the NHL draft this summer. As we explored in an earlier post, there’s only one person to select with the first overall pick. It’s Macklin Celebrini all the way. However, there’s also pick number 14 to consider. That’s the pick the Sharks received in the trade that sent Erik Karlsson to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The choice at 14 is a little murkier for the Sharks. Not only does management have to identify the best fit for the organization, but the team will also need backups just in case the player at the top of the list is taken. So, over the next few days, we’ll explore some of the options for the 14th pick.
Today, it’s a look at Adam Jiříček, a player several mock drafts have San Jose selecting.
Adam Jiříček, D – HC Plzen (Czechia)
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 168 lbs.
Age/DOB: 17, June 28, 2006
Shoots: Right
HC Plzen U20: 3 games, 0 points
HC Plzen: 19 games, 1 point (0 G, 1 A)
Czechia U18: 9 games, 4 points (1 G, 3 A)
Czechia U20: 10 games, 0 points
Jiříček had a tough time in his draft year, making his spot on the draft board a bit of a guessing game. The defenseman looked promising coming into the draft year, but a concussion in December and an injury in the first game of the IIHF World Junior Championship in January took Jiříček off the ice for several months. As a result, his season leading into the draft is incomplete.
The case against Jiříček
That incomplete may turn out to benefit the Sharks. The injury and the concussion kept the talented young defenseman from showing any improvement in his development. Without having a full draft season to work off of, many teams are guessing at Jiříček’s talent and his ceiling.
What’s more, all that considerable time off has allowed other players to surge past Jiříček on the draft boards. The Sharks would be taking a gamble picking the 17-year-old — he’ll turn 18 on draft day — but it is a gamble that could reap huge rewards if the Sharks are patient.
The case for Jiříček
Unlike other teams, specifically ones with only one draft pick in the first round, the Sharks have the luxury of taking a risk on Jiříček. The team will get its high-end talent when it drafts Macklin Celebrini. The next pick is more of a move to shore up the prospect pool. Jiříček comes with a slightly higher risk but also a much higher reward.
“Despite the setback, his previous performances and skill set had put him in the top 10 conversation before. If he is able to make a full recovery as expected and continues to develop, Jiříček might become one of the biggest steals of the 2024 NHL Draft, especially if he falls out of the 1st round,” Matej Deraj of McKeen’s Hockey wrote.
Meanwhile, Dan Marr, the vice president of NHL Central Scouting, says Jiříček is a well-rounded player.
“There’s just a lot of history with watching him play,” Marr told Jordan Hall of NBC Sports Philadelphia. “He plays all situations, but he has just got that composure and poise with the puck to read plays, to make good decisions and to get the job done. There are no real holes to his game.”
A few draft boards have the Sharks taking Jiříček with the 14th overall pick, including Craig Button of TSN.
This is what Smaht Scouting has to say about the defenseman:
“Adam Jiříček is one of the stronger defensive defensemen in this class. When defending against the rush, he communicates well with his forwards to explain where he needs the support prior to crossing into the defensive zone,” wrote Josh Tessler. “He implements extremely good positioning to shut down passing and shooting lanes to the interior. Jiříček does a great job of re-adjusting his positioning when defending against multiple attackers to shut down potential one-timers. When behind the red line and along the boards, he plays with a physical edge and will look to poke check. Jiříček’s floor seems to be a top-four defenseman, but with more and more refinement, he could potentially be a top-two defenseman.”
Conclusion
If the Sharks do decide that Jiříček is the team’s target, this is the perfect place to consider trading down in the draft. The injury concerns might cause Jiříček to fall into the late teens, early 20s range. The Sharks could take advantage of waiting for a few more picks to get the player they want while adding a second pick for day two of draft day.
While Jiříček is considered a risk given injuries in an important development year, it might be one San Jose should consider.
