Jiricek was reassigned to AHL Cleveland on Saturday, Mark Scheig of The Hockey Writers reports.

EDGE Analysis

Jiricek made his third NHL appearance Saturday versus the Rangers in a 4-0 shutout loss. He'll rejoin Cleveland's pursuit of an AHL playoff spot.

Jiricek was recalled from AHL Cleveland on Saturday, Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

Jiricek is considered a big part of the Blue Jackets' future, after was drafted sixth overall in 2022. He played a couple of games with Columbus in late October, but he has spent most of the season at the AHL level. Jiricek has six goals and 32 assists in 51 AHL games this season.

Jiricek will play for the Czech team at the World Junior Championship, beginning Dec, 26 in Halifax, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

The sixth overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, Jiricek has had a strong start to his pro career this season with four goals and 16 points in 16 games for AHL Cleveland, in addition to going without a point in his first two NHL contests. The 19-year-old is expected to be one of the top players on a Czech team that also includes fellow Columbus prospects Stanislav Svozil (third round in 2021) and Martin Rysavy (seventh round in 2021), and with the Blue Jackets playing for little beyond better lottery odds of landing Connor Bedard in next year's draft, Jiricek could see more action at the top level later in the season.

Jiricek was reassigned to AHL Cleveland on Friday.

EDGE Analysis

This is a bit odd given that Jiricek was recalled earlier in the day. However, briefly having Jiricek on the roster created an additional $1 million to Columbus' long-term injured performance bonus pool, according to CapFriendly. He had no points and a minus-4 rating in two games with Columbus during a previous NHL stint. While returning Jiricek to the minors, Columbus also promoted fellow defenseman Jake Christiansen.

Jiricek was recalled from AHL Cleveland on Friday.

EDGE Analysis

The Blue Jackets were decimated with injuries to their blue line Thursday as Zach Werenski (shoulder) and Nick Blankenburg (ankle) were lost for the year and 6-8 weeks, respectively. Jiricek was drafted sixth overall in July 2022 and played a couple of games at the end of October with the Blue Jackets before he was demoted this past week.

Jiricek was demoted to AHL Cleveland on Sunday.

EDGE Analysis

Jiricek averaged 15:31 of ice time and posted a minus-4 rating over his first two NHL appearances. The 18-year-old defenseman should see more playing time in the minors for now.

Jiricek was recalled from AHL Cleveland on Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

Jiricek has four assists in five AHL contests this season. Columbus selected the 18-year-old defender in the first round, sixth overall, of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. Jiricek should get a chance to make his NHL debut during his stint with the Blue Jackets because of injuries to Adam Boqvist (foot) and Nick Blankenburg (upper body).

Blue Jackets coach Brad Larsen didn't rule out Jiricek seeing time in the NHL this season after the 18-year-old defenseman was assigned to AHL Cleveland rather than being sent back to Czechia to continue his development, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

"The more I watched him in camp, the more I was like... he's got to be here [in North America]," Larsen said Tuesday. "If he's doing well, we can get him in the [NHL] lineup. When that's going to be, I don't know. He'll dictate that." Jiricek impressed in his first training camp with the Jackets, and with the sixth overall pick in the 2022 Draft already signed to an entry-level contract, the team has little reason to delay his promotion if he proves he's ready during his time in the AHL.

Jiricek inked a three-year, entry-level contract with Columbus on Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

Jiricek was taken sixth overall in the 2022 NHL Draft by the Jackets and wastes no time getting his first NHL contract underway. Despite being a high draft choice, the blueliner is far from a lock to join the team for the upcoming 2022-23 campaign and could return to his native Czech Republic with HC Plzen in order to further his development. Still, Jiricek should at least get a look during training camp and perhaps could make his NHL debut in the early part of the season before being sent back overseas.