ST. LOUIS — Of all the numbers that St. Louis Blues prospect Adam Jiricek has put up this season, one means the most.“I was counting it a couple days ago, and I’ve played almost 90 games this year,” Jiricek said.In fact, after Thursday’s game with Springfield of the American Hockey League, that number is now 90 exactly.That includes two preseason games with the Blues, 13 with Czechia in international play, 70 with Brantford of the Ontario Hockey League and now five with Springfield.When Brantford’s season ended, Jiricek reported to Springfield, where the 6-foot-3, 185-pound defenseman has jumped into a playoff run and looked the part of a first-rounder (No. 16 in 2024).Thursday’s 2-0 win over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton tied the best-of-five Atlantic Division finals 2-2, forcing a Game 5 on Saturday, which will be Game No. 91 for Jiricek, with the possibility of more.“It’s a lot, but I’m happy for it,” he said. “I’ve played every game this year — every game I could. So I didn’t miss any games because of injury. I’m glad I can be healthy, and with every game you have new experience and you’re getting better.”Jiricek’s game count is so relevant because he missed so many games due to injury earlier in his career.In 2024, the Blues drafted him despite the fact he was dealing with back-to-back knee injuries, one of which required season-ending surgery. Then in his first season in North America, he was sidelined several times in Brantford.“When he came to us, there was a cultural change and adjustment period,” Brantford coach Jay McKee, a former Blues defenseman, told The Athletic. “Then he went through the injuries, and it was hard to get into a flow.”Jiricek was limited to 27 games with the Bulldogs in 2024-25, finishing with four goals and 12 points.He was healthy for St. Louis’ development camp last June, when Blues general manager Doug Armstrong underscored the importance of playing a full season of junior hockey in 2025-26.“He needs to put a solid, healthy year together,” Armstrong said at the time. “It’s hard to make the club from the tub. Sometimes you can’t control it. I’m not saying he can control these injuries he has. But you have to be able to play. We need to see it. He needs to see it. It’s reality. You have to stay healthy to prove how good you are.”Jiricek then attended Blues training camp in September. After the two preseason games, he was assigned to Brantford, where he was, by far, the Bulldogs’ most improved player. His shot was heavier, and he was much stronger on his feet.“He was just a different person,” McKee said. “Right from the first day, his confidence looked different, and he just flourished. His abilities were already there, but when you can start a season healthy, be comfortable in your surroundings and understand the system, he just really became a go-to guy and a dominant player.”In 25 games before World Juniors, Jiricek had 10 goals and 29 points, including a 13-game point streak in which he had six goals and 19 points.His athleticism, play with the puck and edge work allow him to create offensive opportunities that remind McKee of Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson, who had six goals and 66 points en route to the NHL’s rookie of the year award in 2024-25.