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MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. — Adam Jiricek was just beginning to feel good about his game when a freak knee injury ended his World Junior Championship and his season last year, after the Czechia defenseman was fallen on by Slovakia forward Juraj Pekarcik.

However, the St. Louis Blues chose the 18-year-old as the No. 16 pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, and he holds no grudges towards the incident. In fact, he and Pekarcik, who is now also a Blues prospect, managed to find humor in it and shared some laughs during the St. Louis development camp held earlier this month.

Jiricek commented on Pekarcik, who was selected by the Blues as the 76th pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, stating that it was an unfortunate incident. Despite this, Jiricek expressed that he couldn’t hold any anger towards him. He acknowledged that it was simply a hockey play and an unlucky circumstance where Pekarcik accidentally fell on his knee while he was present. Jiricek concluded by emphasizing that there was nothing that could have been done to prevent it.

Jiricek, standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing 178 pounds, unfortunately missed the development camp. However, he is now on the brink of making a comeback on the ice as he prepares for the upcoming season. Throughout his absence, one thing remained clear: both Jiricek and St. Louis had a mutual interest in each other. As the Blues’ turn came up for the first-round pick at Sphere in Las Vegas, Jiricek had a strong feeling that his name would be announced. He had mentally and emotionally prepared himself for this very moment.

Jiricek mentioned that he had a few tapes prepared for the draft, with one of them specifically for St. Louis. He mentioned that St. Louis was the first tape he had prepared, and he had discussed this with his agent, so he was somewhat anticipating it. However, he acknowledged that surprises can happen, so there was still a level of nervousness, although he understood that it was somewhat expected.

Absolutely, I am thrilled! Being drafted is a dream come true for me. I feel grateful to be a part of this organization.

In the draft, the Blues had a clear intention of prioritizing defense. This was evident as they chose three defensemen as their top picks, two of which were selected in the second round. Despite Jiricek’s injury, there was no doubt in St. Louis’ mind about his ability to contribute and his long-term well-being.

According to Blues director of amateur scouting Tony Feltrin, Jiricek is a highly skilled player who excels in various aspects of the game. Feltrin admires Jiricek’s composure and his proactive approach to making a significant impact on the game. Despite recognizing that Jiricek has room to grow physically, Feltrin assures that this is not a worry as there is plenty to appreciate about his current abilities.

Jiricek, the younger brother of Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman David Jiricek, was limited to 19 games with one assist for HC Plzen of the Czech Extraliga, the country’s top professional league, but he’s projected to play in the Canadian Hockey League this season and signed a three-year, entry-level contract July 2.

“The possibility of him moving up to major junior is being considered by him, and I believe it will benefit him,” stated St. Louis general manager Doug Armstrong. “He will collaborate with us and his representatives to determine the most suitable destination. Now that he has signed, the process becomes more straightforward for him.”

The path that Jiricek has taken to reach the ice has been incredibly challenging, but at last, he is beginning to see a more defined route ahead.

He stated, “I’m making progress. I’ve completed a lengthy rehabilitation process spanning a couple of months. Things are going smoothly, and I anticipate being able to hit the ice this summer, hopefully in good health.”