Capitals Draft Targets: Adam Jiricek Packs Promise As Defensive Option At 17

The Washington Capitals have quite a bit of draft capital to work with, and with the No. 17 pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, there are a few names of interest that stand out.

One option, if the team wants to bolster its blue line depth, is Adam Jiricek.

Jiricek, the younger brother of 2022 No. 6 selection David, is the No. 4 ranked international skater by NHL Central Scouting and had the potential to go in the top-10 entering the season. However, a knee injury suffered at World Juniors that cut his season short led to a drop in draft stock, and now, he could potentially go in the middle of the opening round.

Enter Washington, who needs to continue to add to its blue line depth and get younger and bigger on the backend over the years, especially with John Carlson entering the backend of his career and veterans Nick Jensen and Trevor van Riemsdyk also filling out the right side.

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Jiricek is a right-handed defenseman who played in just 19 games with HC Plzen in the Czech League this season before knee surgery. He has tremendous upside and is only expected to get better with time.

The 6-foot-2, 168-pound blueliner takes good care of the puck and worries about his own zone first, but has a great first pass and high hockey IQ that makes him a mobile defenseman who can pose a threat in the offensive zone.

Jiricek also has quick hands and a wicked shot, loves to get involved in the rush and can carry the puck with aplomb, making him a great playmaker and helping him keep plays alive.

On the other side of the puck, he shows awareness in all three doesn't shy away from puck battles, and he's a physical force to boot, making him a high-quality two-way defenseman.

He does have to improve when it comes to skating, and Hockey News colleague Tony Ferrari points out that he's sometimes hesitant on the ice as he worries about making mistakes. Jiricek also has to add more to his frame.

Still, the ceiling for him is incredibly high, and he would be a great pickup for Washington as a versatile, mobile defenseman who can play in any situation, log heavy minutes and will do whatever it takes to keep the play alive.

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And while it's unclear how he will respond to surgery, his resilience, dedication and hockey smarts make it so that the potential benefits outweigh the risks that come with him being a bit of a wild card selection in this year's draft.