Wild get: Forward Bobby Brink

Flyers get: Defenseman David Jiricek

Corey Pronman: This trade is an exchange of two talented, but notably flawed young players.

Jiricek, in his second trade in two years, is a 2022 top 10 pick who has struggled recently. He is a big, right-shot defenseman with good hands and some offensive touch. He’s not an overly smart puck-mover, though, and has below-average mobility for the NHL. As a teenager, he was known for his grit/physical play, but that hasn’t been as noticeable in North America. He still has a good chance of being a 4/5 defenseman in the NHL but those odds are starting to fade a bit.

Brink is a highly skilled and intelligent winger, who works hard and is likable when he has the puck inside the offensive zone. He’s been a quality scorer in the NHL, but he also has to be one of the most awkward-looking skaters I’ve seen, especially for a small wing. He has decent power in his stride but he is notably knock-kneed. Brink is a better player right now, and can help the Wild’s secondary scoring in their playoff run, although if Jiricek hits his projection even as a No. 5, that’s probably more valuable long-term than a small, scoring middle-six wing. Brink was also getting squeezed out in a deep Flyers wing group that will soon add Porter Martone.

Wild grade: B+Flyers grade: B

Harman Dayal: The Jiricek bet clearly wasn’t working out for the Wild. Yes, he still has the shine of being the No. 6 pick from 2022, but after watching his development stagnate in Columbus, he’s hit a similar wall in Minnesota. He still hasn’t established himself as an everyday NHL-caliber defender — he’s pointless in 25 NHL games and has produced an underwhelming 10 points in 24 AHL games.

Watching Jiricek play this season, his skating still looks extremely clunky and worrying. He’s one of the least mobile/agile defensemen I’ve seen in the NHL this season when it comes to pivoting and changing directions. Personally, I think his skating is an insurmountable hurdle that will singlehandedly prevent him from being an impact defenseman. He’s still 22, so I’m not gonna completely write him off, but I’m not a believer in him developing into a top-four defenseman. I’d even be somewhat surprised if he becomes a solid No.5 — I think there’s a chance that he never becomes an NHL regular.

I understand that the Flyers have a glut of wingers and that Brink was expendable, especially with Martone coming. And if Jiricek does somehow figure it out, it will look good exchanging an undersized third-line winger for a big right-shot D. Philosophically, it’s not a bad upside swing. I’m just lower on Jiricek hitting his potential than most.

For the Wild, I love Brink’s fit. Minnesota needed some more skill in the middle-six. Brink’s skill and motor are very likable. It’s, of course, painful to think about how much the Wild gave up for Jiricek less than 18 months ago. But I think it was smart for Minnesota to cash in on Jiricek for a very useful player while he still has some shine as a prospect, rather than let his asset value continue to erode.

Wild grade: B+Flyers grade: C+