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

[Jacob582]

I honestly think he makes the team , Savoie should absolutely go back to junior and I feel Kulich is NHL ready .

Training camp will be telling , but I believe it’s him who makes the team and plays with Cozens and Peterka on the 2nd line

Who else thinks he makes it ???

If I had to bet, I would say no. They'll let his contract slide another year.

I think Rousek is next in line. Also, doesn't look like they are trading Oloffson!?

 

[Old Navy Goat]

Little chance he makes it out of camp especially if Donnie is putting more emphasis on being defensively responsible. He needs the reps to focus on proper positioning in the AHL. Additionally, with Savoie having a more complete game and only options being NHL or the Dub, they'll give him a long look at TC with every opportunity of making the Sabres

 

[elchud]

While I think he does have a chance to make the team, he is better served working on his defensive chops in Rochester...and perhaps time in the pivot. It would take another top-9 injury for him to stick on the roster.

 

[Ace]

I think they’re going to want one of Savoie or Kulich to stick. Benson, Savoie, Kulich and Rosen will probably all be ready for the NHL in 2024-25. And they aren’t breaking in 4 rookies. And the only one whose contract can slide then is the best prospect of the bunch. There’s a mess coming. More growth years dictated by sheer number of rookies. One day the year to win will come. I think.

 

[old kummelweck]

I think they’re going to want one of Savoie or Kulich to stick. Benson, Savoie, Kulich and Rosen will probably all be ready for the NHL in 2024-25. And they aren’t breaking in 4 rookies. And the only one whose contract can slide then is the best prospect of the bunch. There’s a mess coming. More growth years dictated by sheer number of rookies. One day the year to win will come. I think.

Looks to me like Savoie needs more time. One more year in Jr and at least a year in the AHL. Benson may beat Savoie to the NHL.

 

[SnuggaRUDE]

If Kulich's need is defense (and it is) he's better off doing that in the AHL. It's not like he's close to being defensively responsible, where you figure he'll be able to get over the hump at NHL speed.

2022-2023 was the last time for a while (we all hope) Buffalo acted as a development team.

 

[Dirty Dog]

I think they’re going to want one of Savoie or Kulich to stick. Benson, Savoie, Kulich and Rosen will probably all be ready for the NHL in 2024-25. And they aren’t breaking in 4 rookies. And the only one whose contract can slide then is the best prospect of the bunch. There’s a mess coming. More growth years dictated by sheer number of rookies. One day the year to win will come. I think.

You are literally arguing having too many good prospects is a mess and a bad thing. Wild

 

[Zach716]

I think they’re going to want one of Savoie or Kulich to stick. Benson, Savoie, Kulich and Rosen will probably all be ready for the NHL in 2024-25. And they aren’t breaking in 4 rookies. And the only one whose contract can slide then is the best prospect of the bunch. There’s a mess coming. More growth years dictated by sheer number of rookies. One day the year to win will come. I think.

Rushing prospects when they aren’t ready and not immediately needed is a far greater mistake than dealing with having too many rookies on a team when the time comes.

 

[old kummelweck]

Rushing prospects when they aren’t ready and not immediately needed is a far greater mistake than dealing with having too many rookies on a team when the time comes.

What exactly is your criteria for 'rushing'? It's not a lithmus test. Both prospects Ace mentioned are high-end, so the milestone and development path doesn't have a fixed formula. Adams is doing exactly what he should be doing by leaving roster spots for emerging talent.

The issue is no longer going to be guys being rushed, it is going to be spots for guys that are ready for the NHL.

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

You are literally arguing having too many good prospects is a mess and a bad thing. Wild

There's going to be room on the roster anyway. Olofsson and Okposo are certainly not back for 2024-25, and likely Jost, and possibly Girgensons. If those four guys are truly ready for full-time NHL duty (which I doubt), the roster spots are easily there. It would be unlikely that all of Savoie, Kulich, and Rosen force KA to take them on the roster as no-brainer, have to do it moves. As for Benson, I HIGHLY doubt he's physically ready, and won't have anything in his game to still work on. Benson might not be a Sabre until Oct 2025. The idea of four rookies all at once making the roster and being a mistake filled catastrophe, or having no room...either way it's just assuming the worst for the sake of a hot take. Ace is just a doom-and-gloomer to the hilt, and people still try to entertain a conversation for some reason.

 

[Dex]

I believe that the ability/opportunity to develop talent at the NHL level is not over, but with the play of last season's team, the time is nearing in which it will be more of an exception. The early couple of years of the Sabres rebuild provided the perfect circumstance to avoid bad contracts with NHL plugs in favor of development at the NHL level - as we could bring up young talent without the pressure of having to perform at a level higher than they were capable of when they started their NHL tenure. For the most part, it has worked out well for guys like Quinn, JJ, Samuelsson, Krebs, Cozens and yes - even Owen Power. That same set of circumstances also provided the opportunity for guys like Dahlin, Skinner, Tage, and Mitts the same room for growth as they redefined their games in the wake of the Krueger years.

For Kulich, I think the best thing for him and the Sabres organization is for him to play most of the year in Rochester and learn how to combine his offensive prowess with defensive play so that he becomes a complete 200 foot player. Let him be one of the top forward callups which will give him the opportunity to see how what he's been working at the AHL level translates to the NHL. I'd also keep him under 10 games, if possible, to allow his contract to slide. Same for Rosen as well, though I think his contract will slide this year because of his age.

I do think that Rousek has earned a serious look at the NHL level and also believe that Victor will be around until the trade deadline. Whether in Buffalo or to the team he would be on had he been traded, this is a contract year - so you'd expect that the team he's on will be getting the best of Victor as he looks to secure his next contract. That will mean scoring for sure, but will also mean improved all around play. I'm hoping the Sabres will be the beneficiary of the all around Victor until Jack Quinn returns - after which time the Sabres should look to move him - likely at the deadline and hopefully at a high point relative to performance.

 

[rams]

I'd also keep him under 10 games, if possible, to allow his contract to slide. Same for Rosen as well, though I think his contract will slide this year because of his age.

Um, I don't think it works that way for AHL contracts. That's a junior hockey thing.

 

[Jacob582]

Um, I don't think it works that way for AHL contracts. That's a junior hockey thing.

Kulich and Rosen slid last season. Pertains to player's who are 18 or 19 years old who play in the AHL.

 

[Jacob582]

Unless he beats the pants off his competition, I expect Kulich to be in the AHL. It's what Adams has done in the past - keep them (Quinn and Peterka) down while their contracts can slide.

 

[Matt Ress]

Unless he beats the pants off his competition, I expect Kulich to be in the AHL. It's what Adams has done in the past - keep them (Quinn and Peterka) down while their contracts can slide.

He just might. But Adams has created flexibility where guys can work their way onto the team or show they need more time without being forced up. I think it's paramount to his philosophy. Kulich, as outstanding as his D+1 AHL season was, is actually not as gaudy as JJ and Quinn's D+2. So who knows if he makes the Sabres out of camp.

But we should really retire the idea that Kulich is some cherry picker. He actually plays pretty well all over the ice, was noted as one of the best defensive forwards of his draft class and plays a solid game.

 

[Dingo44]

 

[sr edler]

I legitimately have never seen that first name before.

He's from the greater Skellefteå area so he's most likely named after Skellefteå cult player and later national team head coach Hardy Nilsson (who coached Sweden in the infamous Belarus game at the 2002 Olympics).

There was also a pop/rock band in Sweden in the 90s named after him.

Don't have me go on a whole socio-name tangent here, but names ending with a y (like Tommy, Kenny, Billy, Jimmy, and such) were fairly common in Sweden in or around the 1950s/1960s/1970s among working class people, so it's possible the Hardy name appeared in that same cultural zeitgeist.

 

[TageGod]

Kulich imo is third on the list. Quinn's spot is open for Savoie to tryout. I am not sure any slot is there for Rousek but he is callup #1, and Kulich is #2. Rosen is a wildcard but I think he ultimately will be traded.

 

[KeepKane]

Kulich and Rosen slid last season. Pertains to player's who are 18 or 19 years old who play in the AHL.

It happened with Quinn and Peterka 2 years ago too. Their contracts slid playing in AHL.

 

[Jim Bob]

It happened with Quinn and Peterka 2 years ago too. Their contracts slid playing in AHL.

A player in Kulich's situation (straight to the AHL after being drafted) will have their ELC slide if they play less than 10 NHL games (like a player drafted out of the CHL).

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Kulich's ELC slid last year and can slide again this year.

The Sabres ELC slide candidates for this season are Benson, Kulich, Ostlund, Savoie, Wahlberg, and Komarov.

 

[allsilverdreams]

A player in Kulich's situation (straight to the AHL after being drafted) will have their ELC slide if they play less than 10 NHL games (like a player drafted out of the CHL).

Thank You - CapFriendly - NHL Salary Caps

Thank you for the amazing 9 years

www.capfriendly.com

Kulich's ELC slid last year and can slide again this year.

The Sabres ELC slide candidates for this season are Benson, Kulich, Ostlund, Savoie, Wahlberg, and Komarov.

If there contracts slide does that mean they won't get paid?

 

[Chainshot]

If there contracts slide does that mean they won't get paid?

No, it means they don't accrue years of service against the contract length. They still get paid signing bonus money, AHL salary, and for any time spent in the NHL even if they don't hit the threshold to move the contract from slide to accruing service.

 

[Dingo44]

Corey Pronman's NHL Pipeline Rankings: No. 3 Sabres have built a formidable system

Ranking the top prospects and under-23 players in the organization. Plus, what to expect of every player.

theathletic.com

6. Jiri Kulich, C

4/14/2004 | 5-foot-11 | 172 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 28 in 2022
Tier: Bubble top and middle of the lineup player

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Shot: High-end

Analysis: Kulich had a very successful first season in North America, scoring 24 goals and 46 points as an 18-year-old in the AHL including a point per game in the playoffs. Kulich is a strong skater with good hands and vision who can make plays in transition. I don’t think he’s the flashiest player though. Kulich is a consistently hard-working forward. He won’t run guys over, but he wins a ton of battles and gives a strong effort every night. Kulich’s shot is a weapon though. He can pick corners from a long way out, and his one timer is a legit NHL weapon. Kulich’s ability to score goals will get him to the NHL, and the rest of his game is well rounded enough even without being that big to project as a quality top-six forward, likely on the wing.

 

[Dingo44]

 

[Dingo44]