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Is draft prospect Adam Jiříček a fit for the Calgary Flames prospect pool?

Originally posted on Flamesnation | By Ryley Delaney | Last updated 5/15/24

In a little over six weeks, the 2024 National Hockey League draft will commence.

It’s official, the Calgary Flames will pick ninth overall, and although they won’t get the top prize, Macklin Celebrini, there’ll be plenty of great options available when the Flames draft.

Let’s take a look at one of those prospects who could be available.

Adam Jiříček shouting report and profile

Right-shot defenceman, born Jun. 28, 2006, in Plzeň, Czechia, 6’3”, 178 lbs

One of the biggest Flames’ needs in the farm system is defencemen. Thankfully, the 2024 draft will be stacked with defencemen, including today’s prospect, Adam Jiříček. The 17-year-old who will be drafted on his birthday plays for HC Škoda Plzeň in Czech Extraliga, where he assisted on one goal in 19 games. This was down from his two assists in 12 games in 2022-23.

Admittedly, selecting Jiříček with the ninth-overall pick would be going off the board, as he ranks as Scott Wheeler’s 19th-best draft prospect and Daily Faceoff’s 22nd best-draft prospect. However, he ranks in the high teens in several publications, such as The Hockey News’ Tony Ferrari, who ranks Jiříček 12th, while Bob McKenzie had Jiříček ranked as his 14th-best prospect in his January update. It is worth mentioning that he fell out of the top 15 in his lottery draft article. Jiříček‘s worst ranking is by Eliteprospects (30th), and his consolidated ranking is 17th.

Wheeler pointed out in his scouting report that two knee injuries derailed Jiříček’s season, with the second ending his season. It’s also pointed out that he’s good at moving side to side and forward to back and simplifies the game. He’s a raw prospect, but has “balanced shooting mechanics” and is good at finding open space. The tools are there, but he has to improve.

Yeah, Adam Jiricek (2024) is going to be some fun pic.twitter.com/VxtQEhihJJ

— Cam Robinson (@Hockey_Robinson) July 30, 2023

Ferrari, who ranked Jiříček the highest, noted his mobility, but that the 17-year-old’s defence is good because of the skating. While he makes the safe play rather than the high-risk, high-reward play, Jiříček has the tools to be a good puck moving defenceman and has the raw tools teams love.

Jiříček ranked 25th on Sportsnet’s Jason Bukala’s end-of-March Top 50, where he noted the lack of offensive production was becoming a concern for him prior to the knee injury. Although, he noted that playing against players his age, the puck distribution was good, and Jiříček could be used in all situations.

Adam Jiříček pulling off the Double Dion. pic.twitter.com/8qQMV4AAfo

— David St-Louis (@DavidSt_Louis) October 16, 2023

Daily Faceoff ranked Jiříček 22nd in their March update, echoing many others, pointing out how the knee injury dropped his stock and the lack of offensive production with his club team. They do point out that his body of work for Czechia’s u-18 and u-20 teams is rather impressive, though.

It would be a shock to see Jiříček off the board when the Flames draft ninth, however, he may be available whenever the Flames pick with their other first-round pick which they received from the Vancouver Canucks in the Elias Lindholm deal. The raw tools are there, but due to the two knee injuries, there is certainly risk.

This article first appeared on Flamesnation and was syndicated with permission.

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