It’s safe to say that Adam Jiricek is amped.

Jiricek hasn’t played hockey since a knee injury cut his World Juniors time short way back in December. But that could change soon when Jiricek is assigned to Brantford of the Ontario Hockey League. He has spent all of preseason camp with the Blues, rehabilitating his knee injury and preparing for life in the OHL.

“For me, it’s now important to play some games after the long injury,” Jiricek said last week. “I’m excited to go there, and I can’t wait for it. The guys are already playing, so I’m watching some games. I want to help these guys and make some success this season. I can’t wait to play some games.”

Jiricek is one of the Blues’ most important pieces moving forward. A right-handed defenseman that they took with the 16th pick in this year’s draft, Jiricek is the highest-drafted defenseman by the franchise since Alex Pietrangelo went fourth in 2008. Along with recent high selections Theo Lindstein (2023 first-round pick), Colin Ralph (2024 second) and Lukas Fischer (2024 second), Jiricek is part of a group of defensemen that could be the future in St. Louis.

He played professionally in Czechia the past two years but will transition to Canadian major junior hockey this season. Brantford owns his rights because it drafted him 19th in the CHL import draft last summer.

Jiricek said he’s met Brantford forward Marek Vanacker, who gave “me some advice and some news about” the organization.

“It’s going to be faster, more offensive,” Jiricek said. “It’s going to be different. I don’t know much about it, but we will see.”

The plan with Jiricek was to keep him around the NHL club until he was ready to take on the heavy usage that typically happens in junior hockey with highly regarded players.

“My understanding and my experience with junior teams is when they get these guys back, he’s not going to get back and they’re not going to ease him into game,” Blues general manager Doug Armstrong said before camp. “They’ll play three (games) in three nights and he’ll probably play 28 minutes a night. We want to make sure he’s ready for that. He’s added some muscle mass; he’s worked hard this summer. We’re going to continue to get him as strong as possible and then we’ll get him off to junior hockey.”

As for his knee, Jiricek said it feels good. He skated every day of Blues camp, and he recently began easing into some contact drills.

“Feel really good,” Jiricek said. “The injury, we don’t have any issues. I try to get stronger to (prepare for) the season, so I’m working on that and I hope I’m going to be ready.”

Jiricek, 18, could play again for Czechia in the World Junior Championship and figures to be a group of Blues prospects at the annual tournament.

“It’s so frustrating not playing, but I need to keep working hard and it’s going to be soon,” Jiricek said. “Every day, it’s closer and I’m more and more happy about it.”

The Blues ended their preseason on Saturday night with a 6-2 loss to Chicago in Milwaukee. Dalibor Dvorsky and Scott Perunovich scored for St. Louis, and Mathieu Joseph picked up assists on both goals.

Vadim Zherenko allowed six goals on the 22 shots that he faced in two periods. Joel Hofer made all five saves he was asked to make in the third period.

Both teams used lineups without a ton of regulars, although Connor Bedard did play for Chicago.