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

[The Colonel]

The swagger on this kid. GOTM candidate there.

 

[Czechboy]

An oiler posted that he has more goals than Jeff Skinner.lol

 

[wetcoast]

For sure it'd improve. I have no idea who's spot he'd take though...

View attachment 941447

Cozens? Peterka? Tuch? It's a really nice top 6. I also cannot understand how Buffalo doesn't win more games.

Other than Tuch and maybe McLeod all of their forwards are playing below expectations so far might be one reason.

 

[Czechboy]

Kulich first go at 1C (which I did not see coming at all) was an adventure. I did watch the game. He doesn't get PP1 time so his minutes were not as high as his linemates.

The good
6 shots!
3 hits

The bad
penalty
25 percent on the dot
no points

I was in shock to see him on line 1 with Tage. Curious if we see that again. He's closer to 50% on the dot so that was an abberation IMO.

 

[Forsbergaura21]

View attachment 964520

Kulich first go at 1C (which I did not see coming at all) was an adventure. I did watch the game. He doesn't get PP1 time so his minutes were not as high as his linemates.

The good
6 shots!
3 hits

The bad
penalty
25 percent on the dot
no points

I was in shock to see him on line 1 with Tage. Curious if we see that again. He's closer to 50% on the dot so that was an abberation IMO.

I mean it’s not ideal. To me he is better on the wing.

I get why they tried it:
Thompson himself is not good on faceoffs. But that doesn’t mean you throw Kulich in there. I would prefer Thompson remains at center and Kulich plays on his wing…

 

[Czechboy]

I mean it’s not ideal. To me he is better on the wing.

I get why they tried it:
Thompson himself is not good on faceoffs. But that doesn’t mean you throw Kulich in there. I would prefer Thompson remains at center and Kulich plays on his wing…

I was thrilled with developing him at 3C... I didn't see this 1C twist coming at all. Curious how it goes. I always envisioned him as a Top 6 NHL winger but Ruff keeps saying he creates more offence with his skating down the middle. C's are more valuable than W's so keep it up Sabres!

 

[Chainshot]

I mean it’s not ideal. To me he is better on the wing.

I get why they tried it:
Thompson himself is not good on faceoffs. But that doesn’t mean you throw Kulich in there. I would prefer Thompson remains at center and Kulich plays on his wing…

Part of it is Thompson has some sort of hand/wrist injury and can't really take a draw right now. They had Cozens centering him for a time but now that McLeod is out and Kulich is back, they worked him in there.

 

[wetcoast]

He had himself a pretty good game here in Vancouver tonight and is going to turn into a heck of a good player for the Sabers.

 

[toddkaz]

I was thrilled with developing him at 3C... I didn't see this 1C twist coming at all. Curious how it goes. I always envisioned him as a Top 6 NHL winger but Ruff keeps saying he creates more offence with his skating down the middle. C's are more valuable than W's so keep it up Sabres!

Kulich with 3 points tonight.

 

[Kcoyote3]

Love this guy. Hope he’s a full time NHLer from now on

 

[sting101]

Said this right before the draft

Jiri Kulich will be one of the best players from this draft. If he gets to 15 thats a home run

Scouting agencies are too stubborn to absorb his rise and unseat the past incumbents

A dynamic C that can skate and shoot like he can with his tenacity and IQ would be a huge addition to our pipeline

Make it so Allvin

 

[Czechboy]

I did watch most of it but here he is my stat watching.lol

Dot doubled but the last game was brutal. Needs to up that a little to get closer to 50 BUT 2 of his points were from faceoff draws.

His 3 points were products of Peterka and Tage. All 3 scored on that line though and I'd say that line is quite effective. You HAVE to get points if you are on line 1 with Tage and Peterka and he did.

I don't think he's a finished product or has arrived but i do find this all extremely encouraging. 3 shots, 2 hits and 3 points. He was on for a very bad shift as well.. they all stayed out for almost 2 minutes and got scored on and he didn't have his stick. Curious what Ruff does next games because that can't happen to a line. Hopefully just a learning experience as he seems very open to feedback and growing his game.

I'm loving it. Hoping for no more AHL and Worlds in Sweden. He is now on pace for 12 to 15 goals which would be a great rookie year. 20 would be a dream come true but unlikely.

On the negative side... big bulk of his points are from 2 multipoint games.

Arrows up for this very bias Czech person.

 

[Czechboy]

Said this right before the draft

Jiri Kulich will be one of the best players from this draft. If he gets to 15 thats a home run

Scouting agencies are too stubborn to absorb his rise and unseat the past incumbents

A dynamic C that can skate and shoot like he can with his tenacity and IQ would be a huge addition to our pipeline

Make it so Allvin

Very early redraft and he's in top 15 (taken 28).. 3rd biggest riser so far. Poitras is ahead of him. Hutson appears to be the big riser so far. Time will tell but he's keeping great company

By my very quick count.. 6th highest forward and Kaspar is in his sights... 11 less games and 1 less point.

Guys ahead of him include D like Korchinski, Nemec and Jiricek who are either in AHL or may be returning soon.

 

[Oresy]

MartyGod sure got quiet.

 

[Fixed to Ruin]

 

[Czechboy]

Top line and PP1... I did not see this coming. I actually never saw him as a 1C even at his peak. He had 4 shots on that PP.

 

[Fixed to Ruin]

Top line and PP1... I did not see this coming. I actually never saw him as a 1C even at his peak. He had 4 shots on that PP.

With that shot he's where he should be imo

 

[Czechboy]

With that shot he's where he should be imo

Yup... all those international tourneys had Kulich right there being fed by Sale or Benak. it was Stamkos-ish. Glad to see it in NHL cause you never know if it'll translate. So far so good.

 

[Czechboy]

Thank you Sabres... clap clap clap.. thank you Sabres...

I'll enjoy this till he goes back to Rochester.lol

 

[martygod12]

Damn nice he is going stronger and stronger but tonight ?

Only one assist while his linemates both had 4 points, that's gotta suck lol

 

[Ana Crusis]

I dont understand the empty net goal from peterka. Kulich wins the faceoff in his own zone, puck goes to peterka who scores from center ice apx. But they rule it an unnasisted goal.

 

[Chainshot]

I dont understand the empty net goal from peterka. Kulich wins the faceoff in his own zone, puck goes to peterka who scores from center ice apx. But they rule it an unnasisted goal.

I was wondering that as well and went back to it - looks like Pasta plays the puck at the blueline just before Peterka squeezes through. Perhaps a more generous scoring table would've given him that one.

A couple of the goals were in the middle of line changes - Thompson's first two came with a mis-match of guys on the ice.

The 2nd Peterka goal is due to Kulich backchecking the Bruin into a turnover, which is the one he got the assist credit. It hasn't hurt that Thompson, while not able to really take draws with whatever hand/wrist thing he has going on and moved to the wing is on a heater now with Kulich as his regular center. That should keep them together for some time.

 

[Czechboy]

I was wondering that as well and went back to it - looks like Pasta plays the puck at the blueline just before Peterka squeezes through. Perhaps a more generous scoring table would've given him that one.

A couple of the goals were in the middle of line changes - Thompson's first two came with a mis-match of guys on the ice.

The 2nd Peterka goal is due to Kulich backchecking the Bruin into a turnover, which is the one he got the assist credit. It hasn't hurt that Thompson, while not able to really take draws with whatever hand/wrist thing he has going on and moved to the wing is on a heater now with Kulich as his regular center. That should keep them together for some time.

It was pretty funny to see him get only 1 point last night with Tage and Perka combining for 7 or 8.lol

I've noticed his draws keep leading to goals. A lot of his points are won draws and back of the net. His faceoff percentge is rising a bit too so he seems to be quite good at the draws (for a rookie C).

 

[Chainshot]

It was pretty funny to see him get only 1 point last night with Tage and Perka combining for 7 or 8.lol

I've noticed his draws keep leading to goals. A lot of his points are won draws and back of the net. His faceoff percentge is rising a bit too so he seems to be quite good at the draws (for a rookie C).

Yeah, the two assist game a few days ago were both off offensive zone faceoff wins. I'm most impressed with how committed he has been to puck pursuit on the backcheck (like the contact that lead to assist for Peterka). He's shown a lot of very good engagement in ways that weren't as pronounced in the AHL when he was playing center. That's been refreshing.

 

[CowbellConray]

Yeah, the two assist game a few days ago were both off offensive zone faceoff wins. I'm most impressed with how committed he has been to puck pursuit on the backcheck (like the contact that lead to assist for Peterka). He's shown a lot of very good engagement in ways that weren't as pronounced in the AHL when he was playing center. That's been refreshing.

To that point, during his first callup last year he looked lost on the backcheck - a LOT of floating. He has worked hard, which to me is the best sign of his potential. The guy wants to be the best, he has natural traits (Shot, IQ), he is adding strength and commitment to that natural ability.

I'd be shocked if he isn't a 60 point guy in his career (I think he can be even better, but that's my conservative prediction)