Prospect Info: C/W Jiri Kulich, 28th Overall, 2022 NHL Draft; Recalled 11/15/2024

[Deep Blue Metallic]

Thanks to all.

 

[Chainshot]

Have we heard anything recently from the Sabres about where he'll play next season?

This Elite Prospects entry was pointed out to me on Kulich's Prospect board page. EP has the same "Loan" tag for Ostlund. Is EP's "Loan" designation reliable or just a placeholder while awaiting an announcement from a player's NHL team?

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Haven't seen anything since the signing.

 

[jmelm]

To add to the C vs W discussion and in addition to the points others brought up (about his playmaking primarily, and his preference to play the W)….

Practically speaking, Kulich will likely be able to play higher up in the lineup on the W vs. C. So it depends on how we want to use him: as a complementary winger on a top 2 scoring line, who can be a dangerous shooter, effective puck retriever and defensively responsible presence? Or are we going to use his in a bottom 6 role where he’ll add secondary offense to an energy/checking line?

While he can be effective in both roles, I suspect we’ll get more out of him if we use him in higher up the lineup if he continues to develop as expected. Perhaps he’ll be able to replace Skinner in 3-4 years as a top 6 LW, when Skinner may be slowing down and Kulich is starting to hit his stride at the NHL level.

That’s how I see it today, though so many things could happen between now and then given the depth of young players/prospects and 4 more picks in the first 2 rounds of the 2023 draft.

 

[old kummelweck]

Per Seth Appert…Rochester

Exactly, I don't understand why people are speculating at this point.

 

[elchud]

Kulich may be the Olofsson replacement and not the Skinner replacement. He could be a year or two away

 

[Matt Ress]

Kulich may be the Olofsson replacement and not the Skinner replacement. He could be a year or two away

My guess is 2-3 years away but how good would Savoie look with Tage and Tucher?

 

[RhinoFan]

My guess is 2-3 years away but how good would Savoie look with Tage and Tucher?

Tage and Savoie sounds like a match made in heaven to me. Savoie's ability to distribute could really maximize Tage's shot/production.

 

[Matt Ress]

Tage and Savoie sounds like a match made in heaven to me. Savoie's ability to distribute could really maximize Tage's shot/production.

Not to derail but you get Tuch digging out pucks, Savoie dishing, Tage shooting and Tuch cleaning up.

As for Kulich, I can see him as a glue guy that can put the puck in the net. Glue guys sometimes infers that a guy won't be scoring much but Jiri has that added dimension. Lots of good skaters and shooters coming up.

 

[WhereAreTheCookies]

Not to derail but you get Tuch digging out pucks, Savoie dishing, Tage shooting and Tuch cleaning up.

As for Kulich, I can see him as a glue guy that can put the puck in the net. Glue guys sometimes infers that a guy won't be scoring much but Jiri has that added dimension. Lots of good skaters and shooters coming up.

I could see Kulich being a Tuch type player for a line. Digs pucks out of the corners, heavy forecheck but with more of a shoot first tendency than Tuch. Put him with Quinn and a Krebs or Ostlund as a distributor and you could have something down the road.

 

[Matt Ress]

I could see Kulich being a Tuch type player for a line. Digs pucks out of the corners, heavy forecheck but with more of a shoot first tendency than Tuch. Put him with Quinn and a Krebs or Ostlund as a distributor and you could have something down the road.

Yeah the more I think about it the more I would put Krebs in Skinners spot so that Savoie can run his own line.

We got shooters, we got distributors, we got retrievers, we got 200 foot guys, we got some size, we got speed. We just need guys to develop properly.

 

[Faceboner]

Yeah the more I think about it the more I would put Krebs in Skinners spot so that Savoie can run his own line.

We got shooters, we got distributors, we got retrievers, we got 200 foot guys, we got some size, we got speed. We just need guys to develop properly.

Best part is some guys have some of theses qualities in one package

 

[jc17]

We got shooters, we got distributors, we got retrievers, we got 200 foot guys, we got some size, we got speed.

Don't get your hopes up. He's practicing with the Blues. Probably not going to even sign here....

 

[Ace]

We have some crazy shooters. It’s why Olofsson’s days are numbered. We have shooters who can offer more away from the puck than him. But his shot is still the best of the lot. But you can put Kulich on the power play in his place and definitely get more at five on five. You can put Rosen there and hopefully get more five on five. You can put Quinn and his lightning wrist release there and definitely get more five on five. You already have Tage on the other side giving you a ton more at five on five.

You can also change it up and have guys without the one timer in that spot distributing like Krebs or Ostlund or maybe even Mittelstadt. Or Savoie who can pretty much do anything with the puck.

With Power or Dahlin quarterbacking for the next era you can try a lot of things. Almost all of which will improve you at even strength with someone in Olofsson’s spot.

 

[dasaybz]

We have some crazy shooters. It’s why Olofsson’s days are numbered. We have shooters who can offer more away from the puck than him. But his shot is still the best of the lot. But you can put Kulich on the power play in his place and definitely get more at five on five. You can put Rosen there and hopefully get more five on five. You can put Quinn and his lightning wrist release there and definitely get more five on five. You already have Tage on the other side giving you a ton more at five on five.

You can also change it up and have guys without the one timer in that spot distributing like Krebs or Ostlund or maybe even Mittelstadt. Or Savoie who can pretty much do anything with the puck.

With Power or Dahlin quarterbacking for the next era you can try a lot of things. Almost all of which will improve you at even strength with someone in Olofsson’s spot.

You're talking about 3 guys who have a combined 2 games of NHL expereience. What makes you so sure they they can be better players 5 v 5 than Vic? I love our prospects as much as anyone, but saying they can definitely offer more 5 v 5 than him is pretty bold. Vic worked hard on his 5v5 game last year and he improved by the end of the year.

 

[Matt Ress]

You're talking about 3 guys who have a combined 2 games of NHL expereience. What makes you so sure they they can be better players 5 v 5 than Vic? I love our prospects as much as anyone, but saying they can definitely offer more 5 v 5 than him is pretty bold. Vic worked hard on his 5v5 game last year and he improved by the end of the year.

In fairness, VO has improved his overall game every season since making the team.

First things first, replace Okie in that spot on PP2. He was solid last season but there will just be better options as soon as this season.

 

[Ace]

You're talking about 3 guys who have a combined 2 games of NHL expereience. What makes you so sure they they can be better players 5 v 5 than Vic? I love our prospects as much as anyone, but saying they can definitely offer more 5 v 5 than him is pretty bold. Vic worked hard on his 5v5 game last year and he improved by the end of the year.

Because he’s been one of the least effective even strength players we’ve had over the course of his career. Bold would be saying Quinn and Kulich don’t offer more. Bold would be saying Olofsson is a good even strength player for more than one stretch at the end of one season.

 

[Matt Ress]

Because he’s been one of the least effective even strength players we’ve had over the course of his career. Bold would be saying Quinn and Kulich don’t offer more. Bold would be saying Olofsson is a good even strength player for more than one stretch at the end of one season.

I think VO has improved his overall game but yeah I can see him being the odd man out in a season or two when things get really crowded. Should be pretty valuable as well; likely still under a reasonable contract, possibly under 30 and certainly adds on ice quality. Asplunds BFF but otherwise not noted as a locker room leader but a good addition to a room.

 

[GOALOFSSON]

 

[joshjull]

 

[allsilverdreams]

Awesome news.if true

 

[DJN21]

If he can develop a bit of a mean streak he will be a very very unique player in this league. He's my fav prospect right now.

 

[Dingo44]

In Pronman's viewing of the Buffalo Prospects Tournament (in person!) he only mentioned Kulich:

Standouts from NHL rookie camps: Who impressed in Buffalo, Penticton and Traverse City?

The prospects from each tournament who helped their chances of cracking the big club or gave strong impressions of future pro potential.

theathletic.com

Jiri Kulich, C, Buffalo: Kulich has had a strong last few months, building off his MVP performance at the U18 Worlds with a good World Junior and good camp performances for Buffalo. He played the middle at this tournament as opposed to the wing and looked comfortable. Kulich isn’t the best at any one thing, but his combination of speed, work ethic and skill allowed him to drive play and make things happen even as an 18-year-old going against older players. He’s likely going to start the season in the AHL, and as far as I can tell he looks ready to help a team at that level.

 

[Jim Bob]

In Pronman's viewing of the Buffalo Prospects Tournament (in person!) he only mentioned Kulich:

Standouts from NHL rookie camps: Who impressed in Buffalo, Penticton and Traverse City?

The prospects from each tournament who helped their chances of cracking the big club or gave strong impressions of future pro potential.

theathletic.com

Given that Savoie & Kozak are likely headed back to the WHL for this season and the focus of the article, I think that makes sense.

 

[Faceboner]

Kulich in the ahl, what are other people's projection for his season mine are somewhere around 20 goals and 40 points which would be really good for any rookie in the a

 

[Jacob582]

Kulich in the ahl, what are other people's projection for his season mine are somewhere around 20 goals and 40 points which would be really good for any rookie in the a

I think he will struggle at first. Quinn and Peterka both struggled at the beginning of their AHL time.

I think your projection is realistic. I think Appert will have an offense first game plan especially with six offensive defenseman on the roster.