I'm not saying I'd do the trade right now, especially how good Bouchard has been playing. But just hypothetically speaking is all.

Ya and that would skyrocket the trade value. Even McDavid or Drai with 1 year left on a their contract greatly outvalues Jiricek.

I guess I should say he'll be a more complete player than Bouchard. Bouchard has defensive gaffs and doesn't play PK.
Considering Bouchard is due for a huge contract raise too, I would say Bouchard + a top prospect gets it done.

LOL, not a chance. Bouchard is a top 3 defenseman in the league right now. Jiricek is a prospect who has defensive issues and a lower ceiling offensively.

Bouchard is a pretty complete player, his offense is 100% stronger than his defense but realistically he doesn't defend poorly (actually has done very well with Ekholm).
I don't think Jiricek alone gets him and don't imagine a trade for him exists without a massive overpay coming to EDM.

What does Bouchard have to do with anything? Edmonton isn't moving him. This trade involves Broberg, which is not interesting to Columbus.

His gap control is good, his skating has always allowed for that, but he mostly uses it to guide players and fairly rarely to engage contact and play a more suffocating defense.
Also his net front presence is still lacking, even in the AHL; he does tie up sticks but is still inconsistent with engaging in physical battles that more so matter on rebounds/in-tight shots.
I hope he learns to be mean (I really hope some of Ekholm's game rubs off on him) but right now he isn't a physical/mean player which is his main struggle defensively.
Hits/60 are also not a great way of judging that, by your definition Ceci is more physical than Ekholm which we both know isn't true lol

So a PPG young D on a good contract and a top prospect
For… a top prospect??? Almost sounds like your valuing Bouchard as a cap dump.