Prospect Info: C/W Jiri Kulich, 28th Overall, 2022 NHL Draft; recalled 11/25/23, assigned 11/29/23

[TheMistyStranger]

He's has all of the qualities I've grown to hate in a Sabre. I really want to trade him before everyone else catches on.

What are those? All he's done at the AHL and WJC level is score. And a captain on an underpowered WJC team, leading them to 3rd.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

What are those? All he's done at the AHL and WJC level is score. And a captain on an underpowered WJC team, leading them to 3rd.

He's a low-IQ scoring winger who doesn't go to the net and doesn't bring anything else to the table. No thanks, we have too many already.

 

[Gras]

I wonder if he got the chance to meet the Czech fans when they were in town

 

[Beerz]

He's a low-IQ scoring winger who doesn't go to the net and doesn't bring anything else to the table. No thanks, we have too many already.

Lol

 

[Old Navy Goat]

I see him as a better Olofsson. He's more willing to engage but won't ever get any Selke votes. He'll score a lot of goals with his shot but I don't know if he'll ever be a true net positive player. Meaning is his goal scoring going to overcome his flaws, or is he going to be a one for me, one for you type.

 

[Matt Ress]

I want to stop normalizing not playing defense or going all out just because a guy can bring some offense. Let’s not tolerate that narrative. Play hard or go somewhere else

 

[Chainshot]

I'd like to know what the plan is here and give him direction to fill that role. He's played more games at center than on the wing this year but he's not defensively attuned enough to be strong in that role at that level. That pretty much precludes him as that when moving up a tier too. Do they want a shooty Palat? Just a better Vic? What is the plan?

 

[Chainshot]

Sounds like he's not down on himself for this post U20 scoring slump.

 

[Chainshot]

First AHL goal in 2 months (he missed time with the U20's and the injury)



And then left the ice barely mobile a few moments later due to we don't know what.

 

[MOGlLNY]

First AHL goal in 2 months (he missed time with the U20's and the injury)



And then left the ice barely mobile a few moments later due to we don't know what.

Very cool! Love this organization!

 

[Chainshot]

Appert’s initial comments postgame - he didn’t see it.

 

[BUCKSHOT]

Appert’s initial comments postgame - he didn’t see it.

it was behind the play (at center ice) the TV cameras missed it also

any idea upper/lower body ?

 

[Chainshot]

it was behind the play (at center ice) the TV cameras missed it also

any idea upper/lower body ?

They said upper - he struggled to get off the ice and to the locker room so I figure something hit him in the head.

 

[HOOats]

 

[sabremike]

The guy in the comments blaming Kulich wakes up every morning and enjoys a huge bowl of lead paint chips for breakfast.

 

[Chainshot]

Still out after the cheapshot.

 

[Dingo44]

2024 NHL prospect pool rankings: No. 1 Buffalo Sabres

The Sabres have a new wave of prospects coming and their top six or seven are as strong as any group in the league.

theathletic.com

3. Jiri Kulich, C/LW/RW, 19 (Rochester Americans)
A riser in his draft year after a standout showing at U18 worlds, and a continued riser since with his strong play in the AHL (including in the middle to give him real positional versatility), Kulich is a sturdy, driven, hard-shooting player who can morph his game to his role. He can function as the detail-oriented, above-puck defender who makes quick plays/decisions with the puck. He can play off of talented linemates to free his extremely dangerous shooting arsenal up. Or he can carry the puck and function as the primary handler on a line. I like his positioning off the puck. I like the strength, balance and control of his skating stride. I like how quickly and hard shots come off of his stick (not just with his world-class one-timer but through a deceptive early release point in stride, too). I’ve seen him come up big in big moments.

He’s got quick hands and semi-regularly flashes skill with the puck on a string one-on-one and under the triangles of defenders’ sticks. He’s got good feel around the net. He plays hard. His skating is noticeable off the puck in his ability to pursue and recapture possession to extend sequences. The ice tends to tilt in his favour when he’s on it. He stays over pucks and protects them extremely well. He supports play well. There’s a lot to like about his makeup. He just looks like a pro — and has played like one as a teenager in the AHL the last two seasons, which included leading a good Americans team in playoff scoring with seven goals in 12 games. I have no doubt he’s going to be an NHLer — and likely a very good one. I think he’s going to be a perennial 25-goal guy who might touch 30.

 

[Beerz]

2024 NHL prospect pool rankings: No. 1 Buffalo Sabres

The Sabres have a new wave of prospects coming and their top six or seven are as strong as any group in the league.

theathletic.com

Sounds exactly like Victor Olofsson

 

[Ehran]

Sounds exactly like Victor Olofsson

He’s got good feel around the net. He plays hard. His skating is noticeable off the puck in his ability to pursue and recapture possession to extend sequences. The ice tends to tilt in his favour when he’s on it. He stays over pucks and protects them extremely well. He supports play well.

Eh, that doesn't sound like Olofsson at all, TBH.

 

[Dubi Doo]

Sounds exactly like Victor Olofsson

I don't think Olofsson would've sniffed Kulich's rookie year in the AHL. That was some insane goal scoring for an 18-year-old straight out of the draft.

 

[Beerz]

I used wrong emoji ... should of been the sarcasm one

 

[Chainshot]

14 points in his last 18, starting to get that part back online.
Defensively though, he's really impressed of late with checking duties on guys like Fix-Wolansky and Barre-Boulet.

 

[JLewyB]

his slight uptick in defensive acumen and in turn his development as a center has made think about how many prospects have we wasted letting them jump the AHL and develop as a winger in the NHL then move them to center without time in the A.

Im still butt hurt Reinhart didnt take that path. He’s turned out to be a great winger but his skillset as a prospect screamed center.

Mitts never got the time

Krebs should’ve been in the A longer

But now at look at Kulich and I see what the correct path was for Cozens most of all. Imagine if Cozens had that carrot of making it to the NHL If he developed his defensive game at center. We would have a legit number 2 right now

 

[Chainshot]

his slight uptick in defensive acumen and in turn his development as a center has made think about how many prospects have we wasted letting them jump the AHL and develop as a winger in the NHL then move them to center without time in the A.

Im still butt hurt Reinhart didnt take that path. He’s turned out to be a great winger but his skillset as a prospect screamed center.

Mitts never got the time

Krebs should’ve been in the A longer

But now at look at Kulich and I see what the correct path was for Cozens most of all. Imagine if Cozens had that carrot of making it to the NHL If he developed his defensive game at center. We would have a legit number 2 right now

Kulich looks a lot better at center over the last month or so. I would say he had his best game as a 200' player there just last week. I'm curious if that's what the objective is long-term.

 

[MOGlLNY]

Kulich looks a lot better at center over the last month or so. I would say he had his best game as a 200' player there just last week. I'm curious if that's what the objective is long-term.

Bolster the 3rd line and 4th lines via trades and put him as the 3C with some solid third line guys? I wouldn’t mind that plan if he really has a great run in the playoffs.

Or make a big upgrade at 3C, have Kulich play wing and slowly bring him into center.

The more I think about this the more I’m realizing that we may be going into next season with Kulich and Savoie on the roster. Which I think would easily put us as our youngest team ever.

Someone under contract or an RFA forward has to be gone. Unless we’re moving one of Savoie or Kulich which means we’ve obviously made a massive trade