The Columbus Blue Jackets and David Jiříček, their sixth overall pick in 2022, have had a strained relationship for a little over a year. Trade speculations have been circling since the offseason, but ramped up when it was reported that Jiříček being traded was a matter of “when, not if.” The standoff came to a head this afternoon when the Minnesota Wild acquired Jiříček along with a fifth round pick in exchange for prospect Daemon Hunt, a second-round pick in 2027, Colorado’s third-rounder in 2026, and Toronto’s fourth-round pick in 2026. Columbus will also receive Minnesota’s first round pick in 2025, unless it’s a top five draft pick. If it is, Columbus will get Minnesota’s 2026 first-round pick instead
This is, by far, the biggest trade of the 2024-25 NHL season. Here are my grades for both teams involved in the trade.
Minnesota’s Grade: A
It sure seems like the Wild are trying to establish themselves as a serious contender. Superstar forward Kirill Kaprizov will need a new contract at the end of the 2025-26 season, and trades like this will just give him more reasons to re-sign with Minnesota. For a competitive team, that first rounder they traded away is inconsequential if it leads to Minnesota’s first ever Stanley Cup. Daemon Hunt– a 22 year old defenseman taken in the third round in 2020– is a good prospect, but Jiříček is a great one. When Jiříček joins the NHL team, he’ll help bolster their defense.
Columbus’ Grade: B-
There are a few ways to look at this. On one hand, Columbus received a solid defensive prospect in Daemon Hunt. They also acquired a king’s ransom worth of draft picks. To get first, second and third-round picks is no small feat. But it feels like they should have gotten more for him. The publicity of the situation likely decreased Jiříček’s value, because every team in the league knew that he would soon be on the way out of Columbus.
On the other hand, it never should have gotten to this point. Jiříček was a highly touted prospect, and for good reason. His development was blocked in favor of icing defensemen with far less upside. But what’s done is done, and David Jiříček is now the property of the Minnesota Wild.
