Adam Jiricek

November 2023 – Jiricek has struggled this season, hesitation has plagued his on-puck game in our viewings and the flashes of confidence and offensive play-driving he showed at the Hlinka over the summer have been few and far between in league play this year, both at the pro and U20 levels. That said, his tools forced our hand in keeping him inside our top 15. Few sub-160 lbs players are as vicious on a shift-to-shift basis as the younger Jiricek, his physicality is already a clear strength so once he adds 30-40 lbs to his frame, he’s going to be a scary sight. He uses his physicality intelligently too, always looking to separate player from puck. He covers a lot of ice despite his awkward stride mechanics and his strong edgework allows him to fluidly redirect his momentum, allowing him to physically adapt very quickly, but his anticipation doesn’t yet allow him to fully weaponize this tool. When he’s confident and making quick decisions, Jiricek has all the tools to become a capable two-way #2 or #3 defenseman, but questions remain for us. Most of those pertain to the mental side of the game. From missing secondary scoring threats to becoming a deer in the headlights under pressure while stationary, Jiricek has a few hurdles to overcome, but we have seen enough flashes to believe that there is a real chance he does so. Sebastian High (November Rankings: 14th Overall)