23 Options for the Toronto Maple Leafs at the 2024 NHL Draft - Adam Jiricek

The Toronto Maple Leafs pick 23rd overall in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.

Over the last week or so, we've been profiling players the Toronto Maple Leafs should take with their pick.

The first round of the draft is this upcoming Friday, with the second and subsequent rounds on Saturday.

Previously, we discussed Norwegian defenseman Stian Solberg, and today look at another D option in Adam Jiricek, and what makes him a top prospect, and potential Toronto Maple Leafs target.

Adam Jiricek - Prospect Profile

Born June 28, 2006, Adam Jiricek is a right-handed defenseman who is 6'2" 167lbs.

Adam Jiricek has spent the past few seasons as one of the top defensemen in this year's draft, but a knee injury suffered at the World Juniors against Slovakia impeded his momentum. Truthfully, it's not 100% certain just what teams will get in him.

Jiricek missed the rest of his season due to the injury, limiting what could have been a rise for the Czech defenseman.

Talked about highly in the years past as top talent this year, Jiricek still has some leftover goodwill for what he's done in the past, but uncertainty over his health could see the defenseman fall a bit in the draft, and potentially, to the Toronto Maple Leafs at 23.

Jiricek is one of the most uncertain players in this draft. Not only is he someone who missed a large chunk of time in a crucial part of his career, but he wasn't getting a chance to show his best hockey either.

When it comes to the NHL Draft, scouts will be having less than they would like to go on, and it could lean in Jiricek's stock in an uncertain place.

But who is Adam Jiricek, and why has he continued to command lottery interest despite an injury a less than strong season? The answer relies heavily on what Jiricek has been able to do in the past, things that teams will hope Jiricek will continue to do well at full strength in the future.

SCOUTING REPORT

Adam Jiricek is a largely defensive defenseman with two-way potential who plays a very pro-style level of hockey with a lot of maturity and composure. Jiricek clearly has a strong hockey IQ and reads the game at a higher pace than most at his stage in his career.

Jiricek has risen through the ranks of Czech pro hockey in large part to his ability to outplay everyone else in his age level. Even with a lack of body strength, Jiricek has a naturally skilled physical game. He's a strong shutdown defender with good defensive instincts.

Offensively, you're hoping for a bit more. He seemed to have a bit of an issue moving the puck in the few Czech matches I saw before his injury. He didn't seem prepared for the pace of play of pro competition, and he looked slow and unsure in comparison. He holds on to the puck for too long and doesn't seem certain about executing passes. The shooting looked alright, but he didn't manage to score, which is a disappointment.

With all that, my biggest concern is with the skating. It doesn't seem to have translated to pro hockey, and as I said, he looks slower than most of the other players on the ice. I don't think Jiricek is a slow player, but he didn't look like he had much control or the ability to impact the game. Defensively, he was ready to play, everywhere else, I don't think so.

His absence makes it hard to be sure as to where his progress is as a prospect, his last few games in December, at the World Juniors, the last indicator of where Jiricek was at in his development curve. As a positive, his brief international stint was some of his best hockey. Against his own group, Jiricek reminded people why he's such a promising player. If he can add some size to his defensive game, he could make it into a very appealing pro tool.

For the rest of his game, there just isn't much to go on, and what he showed wasn't what scouts were likely hoping to see. The pieces are still there, but had he stayed healthy, his overall game could've either improved greatly, pushing him higher into the rankings, perhaps into the top-ten, but if he continued struggling to compete, he could've fell harder than he somewhat has. You have to give him a lot of credit for what he's done in the past, while acknowledging in the brief period of time this season it didn't seem the best of him came through.

I see a bottom-four defenseman with his best case scenario being a shutdown second-line defenseman. Based on the games I saw in Czechia, I see a bottom-pair defender. The international matches and U20 games last season do show second pairing potential. I'll meet in the middle and say 4-5th defender is reasonable. Again, this is all going off of games before 2024.

Toronto Maple Leafs Likeliness

There's a more likely than not chance that Jiricek is gone by the Leafs pick at 23, but given his injury concerns, there is the potential of him slipping a bit if teams feel uncertain about his status. Even with that, it does seem a bit unlikely he'll fall to Toronto's lap, but there is a slim possibility.

As for if he'd be the pick for Toronto, I think there's a strong likeliness. It's hard to imagine many defensemen who have the same upside being available at Toronto's lap 23rd overall, and Jiricek is the closest thing to a top-four D with the potential to be available outside of the lottery.

The fear is his smaller size and average play in Czechia. He doesn't look to have the same upside of his brother at the same age, or even now. Columbus is doing good in not rushing David just yet, any team that drafts Adam must be prepared to do the same, and they surely will.

He'd likely still be Toronto's most promising defenseman, but again, it depends on if he's there. Toronto might want to get a safer, more productive option, but at the same time may be intrigued by the promise Jiricek has shown at his best. If he's available at 23, it's an interesting question, one I myself are not entirely sure if the reward supercedes the risk. It'll take internal conversations with Plzen staff and scouts I don't have.

If the Toronto Maple Leafs take Adam Jiricek, it's because they trust the word of the people they're speaking to that he's not only ready to play, but still a player worth taking highly.

QUOTES/FILM

"His currency from events past and his brother’s high draft position will play in his favour, and likely have him taken higher than this ranking (23) would suggest." - Sam Cosentino/Sportsnet

"Jiricek has the upside to develop into an elite two-way defenseman at the NHL level, who’s extremely tough to play against. The highly competitive defender loves to engage in battles in front of the net and lay punishing hits near the boards." - Anni Karvinen/DobberProspects

"Despite the injury, Jiricek should still get selected in the first round – just not in the top 10 like everyone expected before the World Juniors." - Matthew Zator/The Hockey Writers

Offensively, we didn’t get to see the best from Jiricek this season as he started the year seeming reserved in the Czech men’s league." - Tony Ferrari/The Hockey News

"It may take a bit longer, as he lost half of a year to an injury, but Jiricek has all of the tools to want from a solid top-four blueliner." - Tony Ferrari