C Jiri Kulich - Rochester Americans, AHL (2022, 28th, BUF)

[Fjordy]

Stud

 

[Doublechin]

Kid has 9 points in 6 games this postseason, and the team is 6-0 with him in the lineup.

His shot beat Woll CLEAN today. With how Woll played in the playoffs, Kulich beating him clean like that shows me his shot is absolutely going to be an NHL strength. If he can round out his other areas, he will be a big time player

His shot is what makes him the player he is. I still can't get over the Habs passing on him when they drafted Mesar but then again many other teams passed on him for some odd reason. He had star potential and it was clear.

 

[Yatzhee]

The Sabres development pipeline is loaded with high end caliber forwards. Their young Russians still in the Russian leagues are impressive as well. It's near criminal how much talent is going to flow through the Sabres forwards ranks over the next 3 to 5 years.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

This has been a huge playoffs for Rosen as well. Theyre gaining valuable experience on this run. The most encouraging part is, they've both been key contributors throughout the playoffs.

You love to see it. Peterka and Quinn last year. Rosen and Kulich this year. Just churning out talent in Rochester.

Ill be going to a game this round. For sure!

Next year maybe it'll be Levi and Kisakov

 

[CowbellConray]

Next year maybe it'll be Levi and Kisakov

Kozak and Kisakov will be the names people talk about next year for Rochester.

Regarding Kulich, you can tell in the offensive zone he is already an NHL quality talent. His passes are crisp, he works the boards well, he is a heads up player. His best trait is finding that soft spot in the coverage to get his shot off. He puts himself in places to score consistently.

He needs work in his own zone, and sometimes he looks a little lazy on the backcheck if the puck carrier isnt RIGHT in front of him.

With that being said, he will absolutely push for a roster spot next year in the NHL and could force the Sabres to make a decision with some other talent on the team. I expect him to be a 30-20 guy at least in the bigs.

 

[GettingYourMoms]

His shot is what makes him the player he is. I still can't get over the Habs passing on him when they drafted Mesar but then again many other teams passed on him for some odd reason. He had star potential and it was clear.

he was too small, nobody expected him to grow this fast, he scores goals in big games, is hard worker, and can play C if somebody gets hurt. I think he is going to be crucial player in playoffs for Sabres

 

[Dubi Doo]

I may just buy a Kulich Amerks jersey if he carries this team to a Calder Cup win.

 

[Chainshot]

he was too smol, nobody expected him to grow this fast, he scores goals in big games and he is hard worker, i think he is going to be crucial player in playoffs for Sabres

His AHL coach has talked about how Kulich is (and I'm paraphrasing here) "already built like a man".

I would like to see him clean up his defense. Some of that is finding just one position since they have used him at ever forward spot this year, sometimes shifting him from wing to center in the same game. It's not easy with that on top of the language/culture/league adaptations but he doesn't seem to shrink from challenges.

 

[GettingYourMoms]

His AHL coach has talked about how Kulich is (and I'm paraphrasing here) "already built like a man".

I would like to see him clean up his defense. Some of that is finding just one position since they have used him at ever forward spot this year, sometimes shifting him from wing to center in the same game. It's not easy with that on top of the language/culture/league adaptations but he doesn't seem to shrink from challenges.

do you have any comparable player stylistically? He reminds me of Vrana who can play body and defense.

 

[Dubi Doo]

His AHL coach has talked about how Kulich is (and I'm paraphrasing here) "already built like a man".

I would like to see him clean up his defense. Some of that is finding just one position since they have used him at ever forward spot this year, sometimes shifting him from wing to center in the same game. It's not easy with that on top of the language/culture/league adaptations but he doesn't seem to shrink from challenges.

Adams has spoken about this in the past. He wants ultra competitive players who will do anything to win. Kulich seems to be of that ilk.

It's wild he fell as far as he did with an elite shot and an ultra competitve attitude. The sky's the limit for the kid.

 

[Chainshot]

do you have any comparable player stylistically? He reminds me of Vrana who can play body and defense.

I'm one who finds it difficult to directly compare guys but someone like Vrana would be one.

 

[Fixed to Ruin]

do you have any comparable player stylistically? He reminds me of Vrana who can play body and defense.

I think Fiala is an interesting comparable.

 

[GettingYourMoms]

I think Fiala is an interesting comparable.

That would be awesome! He could also be reverse Pasta who was seen as pure playmaker in his draft year lol! Also drafted in the same range.

 

[Kcoyote3]

One of my favorites from last draft. What a shot

 

[GettingYourMoms]

One of my favorites from last draft. What a shot

I think his speed and strength is even more impressive.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Adams has spoken about this in the past. He wants ultra competitive players who will do anything to win. Kulich seems to be of that ilk.

It's wild he fell as far as he did with an elite shot and an ultra competitve attitude. The sky's the limit for the kid.

Wasn't his playmaking highly questionable at the time?

 

[Chainshot]

Wasn't his playmaking highly questionable at the time?

Yeah, some stuff on his cross-seam passing rates being pretty low at the time. He's got so much else going for him though.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

do you have any comparable player stylistically? He reminds me of Vrana who can play body and defense.

I see a fair amount of Pastrnak in his game.

 

[GettingYourMoms]

I see a fair amount of Pastrnak in his game.

i don´t, Pastrnak is world class playmaker.

 

[Goodman68]

I think if I had to pick one player that Kulich doesn't remind me of, it would be Vrana. He has a great shot, he's a great skater, but the rest is different. Vrana is often a lazy, inconsistent and unengaged player, which in my opinion is the exact opposite of Kulich.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

i don´t, Pastrnak is world class playmaker.

He's a good playmaker but I don't know about world class. Guys like Gaudreau, Marner, Kucherov, Crosby, Draisaitl, McDavid, Panarin are world class playmakers. Pastrnak doesn't distribute like them, but he's obviously a world class finisher.

 

[Ralonzo]

Just watching playoffs this year, the player who looked most stylistically comparable in 2023 is imo Carter Verhaege. That shot is a concern for opponents even beyond the top of the circles. A three-way scoring threat who can snipe, deke or one-time, can threaten with outside speed and who takes the puck to the middle of the ice for opportunities too.

 

[Chainshot]

Back on the goal sheet tonight:

 

[Artorius Horus T]

31 goals and almost 60 points this season...
about a month ago, he was still 18 years old.

Either theres some sick 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 year old rookies playing in the AHL this season
or the AHL is a bit washed up this season.

 

[Artorius Horus T]

prior to this season

2 seasons and 60 games in the pro's for Czech Extraleague (or what ever its called today)
- also 10 games in the 2nd division

18 goals and about 30 points (1.16 ppg) in the world juniors (18 and 20)
ppg in the Hlinka


He was ranked in the top 15 by 5 agency's/people, top 20 by 6
Why did he fell to 28th? almost to the 2nd round..


an obvious top 5 / top 10 pick in a redraft