Flyers trade Bobby Brink to Wild for 2022 top-10 pick David Jiříček

PHILADELPHIA — The Flyers are officially in the trade column, as the team started to unclog its logjam on the wing by trading Bobby Brink to the Minnesota Wild for defenseman David Jiříček on Friday.

Although Rasmus Ristolainen, who ultimately was not moved, was the biggest name in play for the Flyers, Brink was another player who many felt could be moved ahead of the 3 p.m. trade deadline. Brink, who is set to be a restricted free agent at season’s end, will also relish the destination as he is a native of Minnetonka, Minn.

“He’s helped me a ton with my game [and] hopefully he can say the same about me,” his linemate Noah Cates said after the team’s practice in Voorhees. “Both being from Minnesota, there’s a lot of good things; it’s sad, but obviously happy, he’s going back home and going to a really good team.

“But definitely a shock, and still processing it. This still doesn’t feel too real. So, obviously, just a great kid, and [he] means a lot to me. So, hoping nothing but the best for him.”

The 24-year-old winger, who was a second-round pick in 2019, has 13 goals and 26 points in 55 games this season, and is on pace for a career-high 17 goals. Brink, who developed chemistry and increased his all-around effectiveness on a third line with Cates and Tyson Foerster the past few seasons, tallied 36 goals and 94 points in 201 career games with the Orange and Black.

It was quite a spell in Philly for Brink, who went from John Tortorella’s doghouse — the coach said two years ago that Brink couldn’t spell “check” and, interestingly enough, scratched him for what would have been his first game in Minnesota — to someone he relied on heavily.

“He’s come a long way,” captain Sean Couturier said back in October. “We’ve always seen his offensive skills and his ability to make plays and create offense, but the defensive side and the reliability of him have really improved. Feels like he’s a complete player, can play in all situations, and he’s going on a nightly basis against top lines. So, credit to him for developing that side of the game.”

Cates did not see Brink before he left for Las Vegas, where the Wild play on Friday night, and hadn’t sent him a text just yet. But he will be seeing him next Thursday, when the Flyers are in Minnesota.

“He went through some tough times with Torts and being a younger player, smaller player, skilled player. And he really helped me,” Cates said. “And I think our games kind of meshed well together and found some good chemistry. … He grew a ton. And credit to him. He’s seen as a critical piece to the Wild that they want, and for them to go on a playoff run. So obviously, an awesome kid, and we’re going to miss him.”

Coming back the other way is the intriguing Jiříček, who will be joining a third team since being selected sixth overall — one pick after the Flyers selected Cutter Gauthier — in the 2022 NHL draft. The 6-foot-4, 204-pound blueliner has split time this season between Minnesota and its American Hockey League affiliate in Iowa, and has no points in 25 NHL games and two goals and 10 points in 24 AHL contests.

Still just 22, Jiříček has yet to deliver on the promise that made him such a highly touted prospect in his draft year. Blessed with great range, puck skills and a bomb of a shot, Jiříček’s combination of size, offensive ability and edge has yet to translate since he moved over to North America.

The Flyers, who were known admirers of Jiříček in his draft year, still obviously believe he’s a worthy reclamation project given his age and toolbox. With the Flyers likely to entertain trades this summer for Ristolainen, Jiříček, although a different player, could potentially fill the size void and could be viewed as an heir apparent. The Flyers announced that Jiříček will report to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the American Hockey League to start.

The questions with Jiříček largely center around his foot speed and clunky skating. Alongside his injury history, it was the other concern entering his draft, and it has only been magnified since he turned pro. He struggles to catch up when forwards get around him, while his decision-making has often gotten him in trouble at the NHL level. He has bona fide power-play traits, but has yet to receive those opportunities thus far.

It is worth noting that the Flyers are buying low on Jiříček, as Minnesota traded defenseman Daemon Hunt plus first-, second-, third- and fourth-round picks for Jiříček just 16 months ago.

Flyers make minor league swap

Forwards Massimo Rizzo and Alexis Gendron are shipping up to Boston in a swap with the Bruins that sees forward Brett Harrison and defenseman Jackson Edward heading to Philly. They will report to Lehigh Valley.

A native of London, Ontario, Harrison was a third-round pick by the Bruins in 2021 and has 19 goals and 49 points in 140 games across four seasons with the Providence Bruins. The 6-foot-3, 201-pound 22-year-old is having a career year with eight goals in 46 games and tied his career high of 17 points set last season.

Edward has spent most of the season with Maine of the ECHL, producing seven assists in 21 games. A native of Newmarket, Ontario, he was teammates with Oliver Bonk and Denver Barkey, the latter of whom also hails from Newmarket, with London of the Ontario Hockey League. The 6-foot-2, 201-pound blueliner was a seventh-round pick of the Bruins in 2022 and brings a physical game to the ice. Elite Prospects draft guide said of Edward, “He’s violent, and he uses that violence to emphatically kill plays at the blue line and end the cycle.”