Adam Jiricek's Performance Thursday Made This Defenseman Decision For St. Louis Blues That Much More Difficult

Andif Adam Jiricek doesn't win a job right out of training camp, it'snot because the first-round pick (No. 16) in the 2024 NHL Draft isn'tgood enough or isn't ready. It's more because it's a numbersgame, and it's because the St. Louis Blues can afford to allow thetalented Czechia-born right-hander to simmer in the American HockeyLeague and build minutes – huge minutes.

Butboy oh boy, did the 20-year-old really step to the plate and show Blues management and coaching staff thathe's putting his best foot forward to make the decision on aseventh defenseman as arduous as possible.

TylerTucker was all but locked in as the seventh D-man, but his recentright knee injury, a knee tweak that coach Jim Montgomery called,opened the door for Jiricek and Calle Rosen , who scored the lone goalin a 1-0 preseason win over the Chicago Blackhawks at EnterpriseCenter on Thursday.