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

[Zman5778]

I think when all is said and done, Kulich is going to wind up playing bigger than his size anyways.

 

[WhereAreTheCookies]

I think when all is said and done, Kulich is going to wind up playing bigger than his size anyways.

He probably will. The biggest issue is people look at their size from the draft, and many of these kids still have yet to fill out. Just because someone is drafted at 170 pounds doesn't mean they are 170 pounds for their whole career. Many of these guys will add 10 - 20 pounds or sometimes more after a couple of years of development and training.

Just for example. Tyler Motte, at the draft he was 5'9" 165lbs, he is now listed at 5'10" 192lbs.

 

[SnuggaRUDE]

He's 5-11, 170.........which is more or less average today. Maybe ever-so-slightly smaller.

Once he fills out and stops growing, he'll more than likely be average.

Average's in NHL:

Position	Age	Height	Weight
Forward	27.3	72.7 (6'0.7")	196.9
Defence	27.7	73.7 (6'1.7")	202.3
Goalie	29.5	74.5 (6'2.5")	200.1

I see three size listings for Jiri.

5'11" - 171 lbs
5'11" - 172 lbs
6'0" - 179 lbs

At 18 years old he is still growing and could add another inch and 10-20 lbs. I would rate him as average forward size. Still better than the band of little people we have been drafting.

Even with 1" and 20lbs, hardly certainties, that's still below average. I wouldn't say he's small, but he's pretty far from large.

He probably will. The biggest issue is people look at their size from the draft, and many of these kids still have yet to fill out. Just because someone is drafted at 170 pounds doesn't mean they are 170 pounds for their whole career. Many of these guys will add 10 - 20 pounds or sometimes more after a couple of years of development and training.

Just for example. Tyler Motte, at the draft he was 5'9" 165lbs, he is now listed at 5'10" 192lbs.

Well yeah, draft listing tend to be based on measurements, roster measurements are only marginally more accurate than professional wrestling.

 

[Der Jaeger]

I guess I meant bigger than Ostlund, Savoie, Rosen.

Personally, I think big and fast trumps small and fast most of the time.

Plus we seem to get beat up a lot by other playoff caliber teams. Krebs gets thrown around like a rag doll out there. Granted, we didn't draft him.

Bolded: not tonight. The more he’s learning to play with Okposo and Girgensons, the more stout his game is getting, as noted tonight.

 

[Chainshot]

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

How many games into next season does Kulich join the Sabres and own a 3rd line wing spot? Love to see Mittelstadt, Krebs, Kulich together.

 

[Chainshot]

How many games into next season does Kulich join the Sabres and own a 3rd line wing spot? Love to see Mittelstadt, Krebs, Kulich together.

That's an interesting question and of all of their guys, might be the one that is closest. His style is so unique - high shot volume and all sorts of speed pursuit.

 

[Diaspora]

That's an interesting question and of all of their guys, might be the one that is closest. His style is so unique - high shot volume and all sorts of speed pursuit.

Maybe after the TDL?

 

[Chainshot]

Maybe after the TDL?

I don't think he's that ready yet. He's having a nice tournie against his peers. He's still learning and growing in terms of the pro game at the AHL level (as is Rosen). Some of what both need to do is going to be getting bigger and stronger. How quickly that happens will be a factor in when they arrive, but I don't see that being this season.

 

[Djp]

I don't think he's that ready yet. He's having a nice tournie against his peers. He's still learning and growing in terms of the pro game at the AHL level (as is Rosen). Some of what both need to do is going to be getting bigger and stronger. How quickly that happens will be a factor in when they arrive, but I don't see that being this season.

As an injury call up in 23/24…Id expect Kulich and Rosen to get called Up.

 

[Ace]

He’s not near the top of the call up list.

 

[Bendium]

As an injury call up in 23/24…Id expect Kulich and Rosen to get called Up.

There are other players that have been working and deserving a call up before those two. When will we stop trying to drive teenagers into the meatgrinder of bottom six NHL play? I expect Rosen and Kulich to both play the majority of the 23-24 season in the AHL....not NHL.

 

[Djp]

There are other players that have been working and deserving a call up before those two. When will we stop trying to drive teenagers into the meatgrinder of bottom six NHL play? I expect Rosen and Kulich to both play the majority of the 23-24 season in the AHL....not NHL.

Like I said injury call ups……

 

[Fly Boy]

I feel like Kulich is the perfect guy to call up next year after the TDL. That said, he also looks like the most pro ready forward in the organization. I'd just like to give him some more time.

 

[Ace]

Like I said injury call ups……

It would take a lot of injuries.

I don’t think he’s top 5 on guys who would get called up. You’d need at least 7 injuries.

Too bad he doesn’t play D…we nearly got there twice

 

[Djp]

It would take a lot of injuries.

I don’t think he’s top 5 on guys who would get called up. You’d need at least 7 injuries.

Too bad he doesn’t play D…we nearly got there twice

what order do you have for next year For forwards?

 

[Old Navy Goat]

what order do you have for next year For forwards?

Depends on what happens with Weissbach and Murray but as of who's under contract for next year he'd be 3rd following Biro and Rousek

 

[Bendium]

Depends on what happens with Weissbach and Murray but as of who's under contract for next year he'd be 3rd following Biro and Rousek

These 4 guys absolutely come up first. Even Cederqvist is at a place where a few NHL games to give him some perspective and direction has been earned. I do not care what round you are drafted in. Once your drafted you go into the pool and must earn it.

I love Kulich so far, but he is 18 years old. He has barely been thawed out of the freezer.....give him some time to cook.

 

[Old Navy Goat]

These 4 guys absolutely come up first. Even Cederqvist is at a place where a few NHL games to give him some perspective and direction has been earned. I do not care what round you are drafted in. Once your drafted you go into the pool and must earn it.

I love Kulich so far, but he is 18 years old. He has barely been thawed out of the freezer.....give him some time to cook.

There's too much uncertainty with regards to the Amerks roster next season so I only went with who's under contract or a rfa. I'm not advocating giving Kulich any games outside of preseason but I don't feel Cederqvist has earned any either

 

[Zach716]

I agree with some of the sentiments in here we should slow cook our forward prospects as much as possible. It’s not like we have any immediate need for them, we are the top scoring league in the team.

 

[Matt Ress]

How many games into next season does Kulich join the Sabres and own a 3rd line wing spot? Love to see Mittelstadt, Krebs, Kulich together.

It's an interesting thought. As noted, we'll have to see what the rest of this year looks like, probably fill in Okies spot in the off season and see how much time the kids have spent in the gym over the summer.

If Kulich finishes the season strong and looks like a top 9 player in camp/preseason, I suspect they still send him back to Rochester to stay hungry and dominate. Then he starts inching up the call up list.

Kulich definitely seems most ready and translatable at this point but other guys might turn corners as well.

 

[Bendium]

Its to bad we cannot clear some of the driftwood (Olofsson, Aspland, Hino), so that we had room to keep one AHL player rotating in with the 13th forward to get some games here and there. This was a year we needed to find out of Murray could make the jump to our 4th line. At 6'5 230lbs he could play a good heavy 10 minutes a game for us. He is good in front of the net as well. He is not a burner but he skates better than people give him credit for.

 

[Nikolajs Sillers]

Its to bad we cannot clear some of the driftwood (Olofsson, Aspland, Hino), so that we had room to keep one AHL player rotating in with the 13th forward to get some games here and there. This was a year we needed to find out of Murray could make the jump to our 4th line. At 6'5 230lbs he could play a good heavy 10 minutes a game for us. He is good in front of the net as well. He is not a burner but he skates better than people give him credit for.

It's just so bad when Asplund regressed so badly.

 

[Bendium]

It's just so bad when Asplund regressed so badly.

I hear ya. It's one reason that I do not like drafting smallish players. Unless they are exceptionally talented, they have to sustain a higher effort level to compete at the NHL level. Aspland can suppress shots but doesn't bring offense and is not big enough to play heavy. SO if his effort drops below 110% he is a good AHL'er. Olofsson has a elite one timer, but is below average defensively, and again, not big enough to play heavy in a bottom six role in the NHL. Hino is a bit more well rounded than those two and can play a middle six role, but has to be on a line where the other two are driving play and he is an addon compliment. Again, too small to play a heavy bottom six roll.

Having one of them in a specialist role would be fine, but three of them taking up bottom six roster spots is debilitating. Gotta make some moves sooner than later.

 

[GrierIsGod123]

I hear ya. It's one reason that I do not like drafting smallish players. Unless they are exceptionally talented, they have to sustain a higher effort level to compete at the NHL level. Aspland can suppress shots but doesn't bring offense and is not big enough to play heavy. SO if his effort drops below 110% he is a good AHL'er. Olofsson has a elite one timer, but is below average defensively, and again, not big enough to play heavy in a bottom six role in the NHL. Hino is a bit more well rounded than those two and can play a middle six role, but has to be on a line where the other two are driving play and he is an addon compliment. Again, too small to play a heavy bottom six roll.

Having one of them in a specialist role would be fine, but three of them taking up bottom six roster spots is debilitating. Gotta make some moves sooner than later.

Still think Asplund is really good, cheap depth to keep around. You're not going to fetch much in a trade for him, and he certainly can fill a bottom 6 role. I really like him as a third-liner and would love to see him replace Mitts or Olofsson on that third line to see how that changes their dynamic. Something will need to be done with that line to make it more match-up friendly in the future.

This is the biggest forward logjam since the 05-06 days. In a year or two it's only going to get more convoluted. That said, it appears most of the core has been identified, so having cheap depth pieces that are good NHL forwards is key. Guys like Mitts and Olofsson will be tough to keep around once guys like Cozens, Quinn and Peterka are getting raises.