The Case For Adam Jiříček

As we slowly creep closer to the NHL Draft, we will focus on players who should be in range for the San Jose Sharks pick at number 14. With the Sharks having all but selected Macklin Celebrini already, the focus on what to do at 14 is the real intrigue for Sharks fans.

Adam Jiříček
Defenseman
6'2" 182 pounds
Birthday: June 2006 (17)
Right-handed

After the top six defensemen in the draft (some order of Levshunov, Silayev, Buium, Dickinson, Parekh, and Yakemchuk), Jiříček is a man left on an island. Stuck between the top and second tier of defensemen (Hutson, Mews, Solberg, Emery, etc.) Jiříček will be a gamble for a general manager and an organization.

He missed a lot of time this season because of injuries, including tearing his ACL at the World Juniors in December. He is expected to return to the ice soon and doesn't turn 18 until draft night. The hope is that he can return to form sooner rather than later. The two main issues are that he lost nearly an entire season of development, and in the games that he did play before his injury, he didn't look great.

Having a (just turned) 17-year-old playing in a men's league is a testament to how good Jiříček actually is, and while the Czechia isn't the NHL, it's still a professional men's league filled with men. If Jiříček was playing well without the production it would be one thing, but he struggled to make an impact by all accounts and his skating was a huge issue.

Jiříček is a prospect that will need time to develop, but he has the tools to be a great two way defenseman. He is extremely physical, uses his size well and has plenty of motor to be a good offensive defenseman.

If Jiříček just needed to work on his skating or if he was coming off an ACL injury that would be one thing, but since it's both. You have to really believe in the upside to draft him. It's 100% there. There is a very easy path to Jiříček becoming one of the best defenseman in the draft class, his ability to jump into the offensive rush, and be a physical shutdown defender on a very good team.

There is a path where he also never fully recovers from his knee injury, his skating is hampered by it, and he just doesn't have the one special enough skill to become an impact player in the NHL, and is that worth picking in the top 15?

The argument could be made that with Macklin Celebrini going first overall, taking a swing on a player like Jiříček is worth is because you feel that you are getting (as close as) a sure thing with Celebrini. If the Sharks decided to pick Jiříček at 14 and then doubled down with a safer defensive pick like an EJ Emery at 33 this would make a ton of sense to protect yourself. Emery is going to be an NHL defenseman because of his athleticism and his ability to defend well at such a young age. Then if Jiříček pans out you have two good defenseman who can both play defense, and if he doesn't you've protected your investment with Emery.

Adam Jiříček is a risk, but could be a calculated risk for a player who has yet to turn 18. If a defensive run happens on draft night and Jiříček is sitting at 14, does Mike Grier pull the trigger?