Bobby Brink helps the Minnesota Wild more than David Jiricek does right now.

Before you type in the comments about how much of a hypocrite I am for saying that trading a 2028 second-round pick for Michael McCarron was irresponsible, and that McCarron helps the team now when that theoretical 14-year-old won’t for at least seven years, understand that this is different.

Bobby Brink is a Minnetonka native who currently has 13 goals and 26 points in 55 games this season, mostly in a third-line checking role. His metrics are also pretty impressive, showing the growth in his game, at least defensively.

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Brink played at a 43-point pace as a 23-year-old in his first full season in a bottom-six role. That’s not a bad asset to have on your team, especially for a player who only makes $1.5 million and is a restricted free agent at the end of the season.

But the bigger part of this in terms of value is Jiricek, the piece going back to Philadelphia. The Wild parted with a 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th round selection to take a swing at the former sixth overall pick. (And Daemon Hunt, who the Wild eventually picked up again)

If the Wild traded that package for Bobby Brink, there would be torches and pitchforks outside of the executive buildings in St. Paul right now. But it was a seller’s market, so worse players (Nic Dowd, Jason Dickinson) have both been traded for 1st-round picks and more at this trade deadline.

The Wild took a swing at Jiricek, and it turned out he might not be the player everyone hoped he could become. He’s shown some flashes of his talent. It’s there. But with the way the Wild are set up at the moment, the window the team has to win right now, Brink will help them more now, and potentially in the future.
 

Brink isn’t a rental. The Wild could re-sign him. He’s got a lot of hockey in front of him and will be an effective player for years to come. 

You can’t say the same about Jiricek. People like to credit Jiricek for being big, but he doesn’t use his size well in defensive board battles or in gap control. He’s 6-foot-4, but he doesn’t play like it. So it’s not necessarily something I consider valuable about him when looking at how hockey executives typically evaluate size.

Jiricek is still only 22 years old. Defensemen of his size typically take longer to develop than forwards, but he hasn’t shown enough growth in his time in Minnesota. His AHL numbers regressed from his time in the Columbus Blue Jackets, and he had too many flaws to earn a regular NHL role.

Could Jiricek still develop into a capable NHL defender? There’s a chance, and the Flyers are taking that bet. But at this point, it won’t be in Minnesota. Jiricek’s best ability is his offense, and with Quinn Hughes quarterbacking the power play for the foreseeable future. That limits his opportunities to be an impactful offensive player, and his frequent defensive mistakes have prevented him from getting time on ice.

It looks like the Wild gave up too much for a middle-six winger. However, they were able to salvage his value and acquire an impact player that can help them now and in the future, something that Jiricek won’t.

The Wild know more than we do. They no longer see the same value in Jiricek and were able to dump him for a player who can be a piece of the future. While it’s not the best asset management, it’s where the Wild found themselves now, and they made the most of it.

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