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

[Fjordy]

Stud

 

[CaliSabresfan24]

 

[toddkaz]

Is he gonna get call-ups next year or do people think he get left alone for another year? I can't see him making the team so I assume he is in rochester and Savoie takes Olofsson's spot. Another year in Rochester and this kid is read to go.

We are going to have too many skilled forwards soon

 

[Fjordy]

Is he gonna get call-ups next year or do people think he get left alone for another year? I can't see him making the team so I assume he is in rochester and Savoie takes Olofsson's spot. Another year in Rochester and this kid is read to go.

We are going to have too many skilled forwards soon

And Poltapov hasn't even arrived yet.

 

[joshjull]

Is he gonna get call-ups next year or do people think he get left alone for another year? I can't see him making the team so I assume he is in rochester and Savoie takes Olofsson's spot. Another year in Rochester and this kid is read to go.

We are going to have too many skilled forwards soon

Thats a good question. He’ll get up 9 of them at least. Beyond that? Probably, I guess it depends on how his season is going and the Sabres injury situation at forward.

 

[jc17]

I saw one person who claims to watch a lot of rochester say that Kulich looks a little VO-like in that he finishes, but doesn't play enough of a complete game. Any validity to this, or someone looking to complain?

 

[Chainshot]

I saw one person who claims to watch a lot of rochester say that Kulich looks a little VO-like in that he finishes, but doesn't play enough of a complete game. Any validity to this, or someone looking to complain?

You could just mention me by name...

His defensive game still needs a lot of work. He's done some of it, he'll need to do more.

 

[joshjull]

I saw one person who claims to watch a lot of rochester say that Kulich looks a little VO-like in that he finishes, but doesn't play enough of a complete game. Any validity to this, or someone looking to complain?

He has to work on his defnese. But thats pretty normal for a teenager who get to this point with his offense(in particular goal scoring). I don‘t see much point in comparing him to a 27yr old VO or even the 23yr old version of him starting his first North American season.

You could just mention me by name...

His defensive game still needs a lot of work. He's done some of it, he'll need to do more.

Nothing brings that into focus better than his quote about not liking to play it.

EDIT: The quote in question -> Rochester coach Seth Appert turned to Jiri Kulich during a meeting and asked, "Do you like playing defense?" Kulich responded with a laugh: "No, I hate playing defense."

 

[Chainshot]

He has to work on his defnese. But thats pretty normal for a teenager who get to this point with his offense(in particular goal scoring). I don‘t see much point in comparing him to a 27yr old VO or even the 23yr old version of him starting his first North American season.


Nothing brings that into focus better than his quote about not liking to play it.

Yeah, if we were to compare the two directly, Vic wasn't even drafted at this point in his career.

 

[TheBarnIsElectric]

I saw one person who claims to watch a lot of rochester say that Kulich looks a little VO-like in that he finishes, but doesn't play enough of a complete game. Any validity to this, or someone looking to complain?

I can't say that I've watched a ton of Amerks this year, so im interested to hear what others say, but in the few games I've seen and in the WJC, he's not totally irresponsible, and he doesn't look incapable of being a 2 way player, he just needs to learn and commit to it. No reason to think he won't improve.

 

[joshjull]

I can't say that I've watched a ton of Amerks this year, so im interested to hear what others say, but in the few games I've seen and in the WJC, he's not totally irresponsible, and he doesn't look incapable of being a 2 way player, he just needs to learn and commit to it. No reason to think he won't improve.

I don’t think anyone is suggesting he can’t figure it out. Just that he has a lot of work to do. Which is pretty normal for a teenager

 

[TheBarnIsElectric]

I don’t think anyone is suggesting he can’t figure it out. Just that he has a lot of work to do. Which is pretty normal for a teenager

Agree. I was responding to the question about him vs VO, who clearly hasn't figured it out. I don't think he's VO.

Edit: I also don't think his shot is as good as VO, for what it's worth.

 

[Chainshot]

Agree. I was responding to the question about him vs VO, who clearly hasn't figured it out. I don't think he's VO.

Edit: I also don't think his shot is as good as VO, for what it's worth.

He's also had to play center more than Appert admits he would have liked as an 18 (now 19) year-old in the AHL and it's in those areas that he has struggled. And not for nothing, there are times on the wing when he's not in the right spot or makes a low percentage/dangerous play at the line too. That's the thing he needs to work on and he's got the time to do so. And it sounds like he understands that if he's attentive to it, he'll get the opportunity at the NHL level.

I've thought he starts next year in Rochester, goes to the U20's and comes back to step up into the NHL roster. He's that young, he's still WJC eligible.

 

[HOOats]

I've thought he starts next year in Rochester, goes to the U20's and comes back to step up into the NHL roster. He's that young, he's still WJC eligible.

Man, he's going to absolutely shred that tournament. 9-8-17 in 14 GP already. He'll end up a top 5 Czech WJC scorer ever with a strong 2024.

 

[Chainshot]

Man, he's going to absolutely shred that tournament. 9-8-17 in 14 GP already. He'll end up a top 5 Czech WJC scorer ever with a strong 2024.

And if all the stars align, he could be on the NHL roster out of camp which would mean his U20 days are likely behind him.

 

[HOOats]

And if all the stars align, he could be on the NHL roster out of camp which would mean his U20 days are likely behind him.

Feels unlikely at this point, no? Maybe 10%? Given our deep forward group, it's such a good scenario for him to get another full season as the man in Roch while polishing the finer points if his pro game, as you've filled us in on. Not to mention the slide.

I'm always on team "let your elite prospects wreck their peers to remind them how dominant they can be" anyways, so I'd send him to Gothenburg either way.

 

[Chainshot]

Feels unlikely at this point, no? Maybe 10%? Given our deep forward group, it's such a good scenario for him to get another full season as the man in Roch while polishing the finer points if his pro game, as you've filled us in on. Not to mention the slide.

I'm always on team "let your elite prospects wreck their peers to remind them how dominant they can be" anyways, so I'd send him to Gothenburg either way.

I still see them looking at breaking in one more younger player when they break camp to start the season. At the moment, I'd put that as like 2/3rds Savoie, 1/3rd Kulich but with the longer term thought that if Kulich has a 2nd year bump like he could, that he pushes his way into the roster after January.

The team seems to share your feelings at least based on their comments about sending Rosen and Kulich to the U20's this past year - go, have fun, rip it up, then come back to work refreshed.

 

[Matt Ress]

I still see them looking at breaking in one more younger player when they break camp to start the season. At the moment, I'd put that as like 2/3rds Savoie, 1/3rd Kulich but with the longer term thought that if Kulich has a 2nd year bump like he could, that he pushes his way into the roster after January.

The team seems to share your feelings at least based on their comments about sending Rosen and Kulich to the U20's this past year - go, have fun, rip it up, then come back to work refreshed.

Hey you never know. It wouldn't be too obscene to displace a Jost. My money is on Rochester but crazier things have happened.

 

[Chainshot]

Hey you never know. It wouldn't be too obscene to displace a Jost. My money is on Rochester but crazier things have happened.

It's more role at this point - who is taking the grunt work minutes they get out of guys like Jost (or Gus or Okie) that are going to be effective in those roles.

 

[Club]

Mans HAWT

 

[Tachycineta]

Tax season is over and I just turned in my last paper for school. I just watched this (first time I've had any time since January). Nice to see his shot and I learned how to pronounce his name (haha - maybe I should rewatch the draft). Excited about this kid.

 

[Beerz]

I think the VO comparison doesn't hold water outside of their shot and some defensive deficiencies... Kulichs offensive game is much more refined than VOs from what I have seen... He doesn't just float in offensive zone trying to find a soft spot for his shot... he drives to net and isn't afraid to go inside... has has more than just a slap shot and isn't afraid of contact.

 

[Chainshot]

I think the VO comparison doesn't hold water outside of their shot and some defensive deficiencies... Kulichs offensive game is much more refined than VOs from what I have seen... He doesn't just float in offensive zone trying to find a soft spot for his shot... he drives to net and isn't afraid to go inside... has has more than just a slap shot and isn't afraid of contact.

My comparison is that today he would give them more than what they get out of Vic by replacing what Vic already does. He clearly goes into higher traffic areas and plays with pace that Vic doesn't and his work rate is significantly better.

 

[HogtownSabresfan]

I think the VO comparison doesn't hold water outside of their shot and some defensive deficiencies... Kulichs offensive game is much more refined than VOs from what I have seen... He doesn't just float in offensive zone trying to find a soft spot for his shot... he drives to net and isn't afraid to go inside... has has more than just a slap shot and isn't afraid of contact.

Kulich did what he did at 18. That's the first biggest difference and it's massive. Olofsson was five years older in his first season with Amerks. And the rest of his game, already better at 19.

To me, the only thing to discuss with this kid is this year in NHL or not. The trade front almost requires a recent top 10 drafted D man or equivalent because in a redraft there is zero way he goes 28.

 

[TheMistyStranger]

Kulich did what he did at 18. That's the first biggest difference and it's massive. Olofsson was five years older in his first season with Amerks. And the rest of his game, already better at 19.

To me, the only thing to discuss with this kid is this year in NHL or not. The trade front almost requires a recent top 10 drafted D man or equivalent because in a redraft there is zero way he goes 28.

He should play at least until January in Rochester, given his current skills. I really want to see him round out his defensive game a bit (a lot) more. Offensively he's there, but as we saw with Quinn and JJP, Kulich needs to know when to leave the zone and when not to. I'd rather he learn that in Rochester where he can outscore his problems.