Jim Bob
RIP RJ
It's his D+1 season. So even more impressive.
Prospect Info: C/W Jiri Kulich, 28th Overall, 2022 NHL Draft; Recalled 11/15/2024
- Thread starter LastWordArmy
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Sabretooth
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This seems like a pick almost everyone here labeled as a steal the moment it was made and has so far proven to be ever since. How the hell did he fall to 28??
Dubi Doo
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- Aug 27, 2008
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Way more impressive, honestly.It's his D+1 season. So even more impressive.
I wish I would have gone to a few games this year like I usually do. It's pretty cool to have two players in back-to-back years have some of the best seasons for their age range. Quinn last year and now Kulich.
Matt Ress
Don't sleep on me
WhereAreTheCookies
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Seems to be the question among a lot of fanbases. Some Ducks and Pens fans posted in his thread in the prospects forum that they really wanted Kulich or Snuggerud and not the player their teams drafted (Gaucher & Pickering). I remember there was even a big debate on the Habs board about why they should have taken Kulich and not Mesar.
Matt Ress
Don't sleep on me
Iirc that's what happened with Corey Perry. Nobody knew why he fell. Turned out pretty well for Anaheim. Kulich is a different player and who knows what he'll do at the next level -disclaimer
Parise in his draft year (didn't fall as far) and Ryan Ellis too were both fallers on their draft day and were universally applauded and went on to strong NHL careers. The draft has these strange moments.
WhereAreTheCookies
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Didn't Chychrun fall too? I thought he was the top rated Dman in his draft year, or close to it and he was still taken as the 4th or 5th Dman.
He did fall a bit too. IIRC, some (Bob MacKenzie) had him around 10 and he lasted until 16.
If there is no COVID year, I imagine Kulich is a much more widely known player and probably doesn't get out of the teens. But hey, Buffalo got lucky.
joshjull
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Dubi Doo
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That is incredibly impressive for an 18 year old. Wow.
toddkaz
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AHL is usually tough in 18 year olds. Kulich is gonna be a good one.It's his D+1 season. So even more impressive.
Ace
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The Montreal board talks about Kulich all the time still. They wanted Kulich bad when they took Mesar and Kulich having this season in the AHL while Mesar has been on a terrible OHL team has only kept it going. I actually liked Mesar going into the draft but not as much as Kulich. Kulich has progressed pretty much how I expected and is producing even more than I would have bet. Mesar I havent watched but I know his team is trash. I can’t speak to what his individual play has looked like.
I thought he had a good WJC…but then…Kulich has a fantastic one so that didn’t help their take on it either,
Ace
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Ace
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When he’s dominating play in the AHL. He’s on a heater and is collecting a lot of goals but they’re the product of his shot and offensive drive. He needs to keep working on his all around game. He’s already serviceable but has ample room for growth away from the puck. When he’s ready to get called up his play will leave no mistake. He’s way ahead of the curve…but he has plenty to work on. He will have a bigger role and more responsibility next year.
Thats much more valuable than trying to learn in the NHL with bottom minutes
hes a rare late 1st where I basically guarantee he’s a quality NHL player. But there’s no reason to rush it.
toddkaz
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Zman5778
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He'll likely get his allotment of 9 games next year unless we stay as injury free as we have this year.
I'd expect him to be ready the year after.....so 24/25.
Probably not to start. But potentially later in the year if his play keeps improving. If this velocity keeps up, I could see it being right after coming back from the U20's.
Seems to score with a variety of shots. He’s going to be a good one. Is he still playing center?
At times, yes. Last game he was back on the wing. Before that he was in the middle for a few games. If he's going to be used as a pro center, his game in his own zone still has to be rounded out since there are times his man is the one playing havoc in front of the Amerks' net. It will come with time, though he may settle in as a pro winger instead.
Yeah - he was the 5th D-man taken, and my recollection was that was a surprising fall. The D taken before him were Juolevi, Sergachev, Bean and McAvoy. Two of those turned out to be smart picks.
I remember this draft and the available D so well because we were all clamoring for Murray to pick a D (either Chychrun, Sergachev, Bean or McAvoy). He picked Nylander. But who knows, maybe if he had picked McAvoy, we never get Dahlin and Power.
