The Blues have started to pump the brakes on Adam Jiricek, and that may be the right call.
At the beginning of the season, Jim Montgomery was handing the rookie defender a hefty workload for a player with no NHL experience. Jiricek averaged 15:31 of ice time and even pushed close to 20 minutes in a couple of games, which turned heads.
But that usage has dipped lately. He logged just 10:17 against the Predators and 11:50 against the Jets, a sign that Montgomery may be trimming his role.
If that continues, Jiricek could settle into something closer to a bottom-pairing role. That might sound like a step back, but it doesn’t have to be a bad thing for his development.
The production hasn’t exactly justified the bigger minutes anyway. Through nine games this season, Jiricek has one goal, along with nine blocked shots, six hits, one takeaway and 12 turnovers.
The underlying numbers are a little more encouraging than the box score. Natural Stat Trick has him at a 51.12 CF%, a 49.51 SCF%, and a 55.68 SCF%.
Still, the case for easing him in is pretty straightforward. Jiricek is 20 years old and this is his first taste of professional hockey.
He spent all of last season in the OHL, and the jump to the NHL is a major one. The pace is faster, the contact is heavier, and the margin for error shrinks in a hurry.
That’s why the Blues should be patient here. A smaller role lets Jiricek get his first real look at the league without being asked to carry too much too soon. It gives him room to learn the game at the NHL level without the pressure of being treated like a fixture right away.
He may still be viewed as a big part of the Blues’ future, but there’s no reason to rush the process. For now, limited minutes might be exactly what he needs while he gets used to the flow of the NHL game.
In Other News...
Jim Montgomery Just Put The Pressure On Dalibor Dvorsky
Dalibor Dvorskys strong start to the season has hit a quieter stretch, and the Blues are clearly not rushing to force the issue. The young center has seen his ice time trimmed over his last three games, a sign that St. Louis is keeping a close eye on how he handles the NHL game beyond the early flashes that got him noticed in the first place. With the Blues carrying enough depth down the middle, they can afford to let his development unfold at a measured pace.
Jim Montgomery has seen progress in Dvorskys defensive work, but the next step is about becoming more involved when St. Louis has the puck. The coach wants more consistency, more threat in the middle of the ice and more activity on the forecheck, rather than a safer perimeter game. For Dvorsky, the message is straightforward: the path back to bigger minutes runs through a more assertive presence on both sides of the puck. [Read more 🡒]
Blues Are Taking A Real Risk With One Young Forward
The Blues made a notable move with a young forward this week, putting Zach Dean on waivers after giving him a brief look in the NHL this season. Dean had been scratched recently and had spent most of his development time in the AHL, so the decision underscores how little runway he has been given so far at the top level.
A first-round pick originally selected by Vegas and acquired by St. Louis in 2023, Dean was brought in as part of the franchises longer-term forward pipeline. Waiving him now reflects both the pressure of fitting young talent into a crowded roster picture and the reality that his next step could depend on whether another club is willing to take a chance on his upside. [Read more 🡒]
Blues Suddenly Have A Bigger Joel Hofer Decision Than Expected
Joel Hofer has moved into a far more important spot for the Blues than many expected when the season began. With the young goalie now handling the starting role, St. Louis is also staring at one of those familiar NHL roster decisions that can shape the next few years, since he is in the final year of a two-year deal carrying a $3.4 million cap hit. The question is no longer just how Hofer finishes this season, but how the Blues want to structure their commitment to him after it.
The club is weighing whether a short-term bridge contract makes the most sense or whether this is the moment to lock him in longer. Either path comes with risk, and the timing matters because the market for young goaltending can move quickly. If St. Louis hesitates, the Blues may not be the only ones trying to determine Hofers value. [Read more 🡒]