CALGARY – It didn't take long Thursday morning to find out how the Blue Jackets planned to bring Zach Werenski off injured reserve .
More: Columbus Blue Jackets notes: Rookie David Jiricek doesn't want to be 'up-and-down' player
Prior to the Jackets' morning skate at Scotiabank Saddledome, rookie defenseman David Jiricek was told he was being reassigned to the Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League for what could be the remainder of the season. Jiricek, 20, gathered his gear and left to catch a flight to Cleveland prior to the Monsters' back-to-back Friday and Saturday against the Hartford Wolfpack.
"He's a good player, but he needs to play," Blue Jackets coach Pascal Vincent said. "It's not about our position in the standings, it's not about the other players. In his case, it's only about what is right for this young man and his future. ... We want to develop a champion, a top defenseman in the NHL and that's a process. We believe, right now at this point, that's the best route."
Jiricek, the sixth overall pick in 2022 , has played a total of 40 NHL games for the Blue Jackets during his first two seasons in North America. That includes 36 this season after making the Jackets' opening roster out of training camp. He was told by general manager Jarmo Kekalainen in October to get an apartment in Columbus, but that wasn't a guarantee he'd spend the entire season there. In fact, Jiricek was reassigned to Cleveland for one game shortly after being told to find an apartment and was also sent to the Monsters recently to play two games prior to the Jackets' current trip.
Werenski's return from a high-ankle sprain that caused him to miss four-plus weeks plus Jiricek's status as a healthy scratch in the Jackets' previous three games were the main reasons for the rookie's third AHL assignment. He wasn't getting enough ice time in the NHL nor playing the roles the Blue Jackets want him to soak up with the Monsters ― a team that's leading the AHL North and bound for the Calder Cup playoffs.
He'll step into the top defense pairing in Cleveland and quarterback a power-play unit, which he didn't do in the NHL with Werenski, Adam Boqvist , Ivan Provorov , Damon Severson and Jake Bean ahead of him in that role.
"He's played 36 games in the NHL ... but in David's case we see a huge potential and this young man has to play minutes," Vincent said. "He has to be put on the ice, he has to play power play, he has to play at the end of the period. He's got tremendous skills. He plays with no fear. He can make good plays, and this is all great. Having said that, we're trying to build a 200-foot defenseman."
In other words, Jiricek mirrors most young defensemen in that he's still got work to do with defensive play, primarily in gap control and skating.
"We're trying to build an elite defenseman that will play heavy minutes against top opponents and in key times," Vincent said. "In order to do that, he needs reps, and for him to develop those skills, the best way to do it right now – having been in the NHL for 36 games – we believe (the AHL) is the best route for him."
It doesn't sound like Jiricek agreed with that assessment and the Jackets' new plan.
"He listened," Vincent said. "We spoke to him today and we explained the plan, so we left it at that. He was listening. It was good."
Asked if he felt Jiricek is respectful of the process most defensemen face just getting to the NHL, Vincent said he understood the rookie's impatience. Earlier this season, Jiricek told the Dispatch that he'd rather be in the NHL playing a limited role as opposed to playing a second AHL season and excelling with big minutes.
"We have kids, right?" Vincent said. "So, my daughter wants her own car. She's 13 years old. That's the Amazon effect. We all want things. It's not just about Jiricek. It's everybody. Everybody wants it now, and I understand that. All hockey players want to be in the NHL. There's a process and everybody is different. When we just look at him and his future, this is the best route. He needs to play minutes."
Blue Jackets defenseman Jake Bean declined to comment on news that broke Wednesday about police in London, Ontario requesting five players from Canada's gold medal winning 2018 world junior team turn themselves in for arrest in connection to an investigation about an alleged sexual assault.
Bean was a defenseman on that team, but police haven't confirmed any player names involved in allegations made by a female who's referred to as "E.M." in court documents. Five players, including some on NHL teams and at least one playing in Europe, have requested indefinite leaves of absence from their teams.
Bean has not requested that from the Blue Jackets, continues to practice and play games, and there haven't been any indications of that changing. He told the Dispatch that he has fully cooperated with investigators from both the police and NHL who are looking into the allegations.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Blue Jackets reassign Jiricek to Cleveland Monsters to get ice time
