The Minnesota Wild have acquired right winger Bobby Brink from the Philadelphia Flyers for defenseman David Jiricek, as per Elliotte Friedman.
Wild Add Middle-Six Talent in Brink
Brink, a playmaking winger suited for a team’s middle six, will give the Wild some additional offensive punch as they push toward the postseason.
Brink, a second-round 2019 Flyers pick, has 13 goals and 13 assists for 26 points in 55 games this season. In 201-career games, the 24 year old has 36 goals and 58 points for 94 points and has never played in the postseason.
Brink is on the final year of a two-year contract worth $1.5 million annually. He has the potential to be more than a rental for the Wild as he is an unrestricted free agent (RFA) this offseason.
The Flyers, third in the Central Division, will be highly motivated to make a Stanley Cup run this spring, especially with franchise defenseman Quinn Hughes, who general manager Bill Guerin acquired in December, also on board. They have not advanced past the first round since 2014-15, when they were swept in the second round.
Flyers Snag High Draft Pick in Jiricek
Jiricek, who comes with the pedigree of being a top-10 pick (sixth overall to the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2022) has bounced between the NHL and American Hockey League (AHL) this season. The right shot 22 year old has zero points in 25 games with the Minnesota Wild this season, and two goals and eight assists for 10 points with the AHL’s Iowa Wild.
Related: 2026 NHL Trade Deadline Tracker
In 84-career NHL games between the Blue Jackets and Wild, the Czechian product has two goals and 11 assists for 13 points. He is on the third and final year of his entry-level contract and will be an RFA this summer.
He has strong puck skill, but his “defensive awareness, risk management, and especially skating have held him back from carving out more than a sheltered depth role,” JFresh hockey noted.
The Flyers, sixth in the Metropolitan Division and eight points out of the second Eastern Conference wild-card spot, will have to hope the the long-term gain that comes with developing Jiricek further will outweigh the short-term pain of losing Brink.
