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The Columbus Blue Jackets will be healthy scratching 2022 sixth overall pick David Jiricek tonight versus the Seattle Kraken.
Blue Jackets head coach Pascal Vincent spoke on the decision “It’s just little things. Nothing major, but just little things here and there. We wanted to give him a good day of practice today,” Vincent said. “We’re working on some technical parts of his skating, his mechanics of skating. Just for some of those young guys once in a while to take a deep breath and reevaluate [their] position, having some meetings with the coaches and having a good understanding of where he’s at. It’s not a bad thing. So that’s what we’re doing right now.”
#CBJ HC Pascal Vincent on why David Jiricek will be a healthy scratch tonight: "It's just little things. Nothing major, but just little things here and there. We wanted to give him a good day of practice today. We're working on some technical parts of his skating, his mechanics…
— Coby Maeir (@CobyMaeir) January 13, 2024
The 20-year-old has one goal and nine points in 36 games while averaging 14:47 minutes of ice time. He ranks fifth among Blue Jackets defenders in points.
Last season, Jiricek dominated the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Cleveland Monsters recording 38 points in 55 games as a rookie. Jiricek played four NHL games with Columbus last year as the team battled through blueliner injuries. He also helped Czechia take silver at the 2023 World Juniors with seven points through seven contests.
The Blue Jackets currently sit eighth in the Metropolitan Division with a 13-20-9 record and a .417-point percentage. Columbus is set to face off against the Kraken tonight and the red-hot Vancouver Canucks on Monday morning.
In Jiricek’s absence, defenseman Andrew Peeke will slot in. The 25-year-old has four points in 13 contests this season.
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