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

[Tatanka]

5 rookies in the lineup if Levi dresses. What could go wrong?

 

[MOGlLNY]

5 rookies in the lineup if Levi dresses. What could go wrong?

We might get on pace to make the playoffs for the 13th straight year. Oh wait

 

[Tatanka]

We might, sure hope so. Not betting the mortgage though. Just sayin.

 

[MOGlLNY]

We might, sure hope so. Not betting the mortgage though. Just sayin.

I actually meant to word that as "We might get on pace to NOT make the playoffs for the 13th straight year. Oh wait"

So I agree. But I was wording it as more of the fact that it literally cannot get worse and our young guys have been a revelation in Benson and Ryan Johnson so far so lets try it again. Nothing to lose.

 

[Colt.45Orr]

5 rookies in the lineup if Levi dresses. What could go wrong?

Bruins have had 4-5 while being in 1st place in entire league

Lohrei, Potrais, Lauko, Beecher

Hopefully Kulich goes to PP1

 

[Tatanka]

I actually meant to word that as "We might get on pace to NOT make the playoffs for the 13th straight year. Oh wait"

So I agree. But I was wording it as more of the fact that it literally cannot get worse and our young guys have been a revelation in Benson and Ryan Johnson so far so lets try it again. Nothing to lose.

There is iron in your words grey rider.

 

[Chainshot]

Not a surprise.

 

[TageGod]

Kulich and Rosen did not make a single play anywhere that was remotely noticeable.

 

[jcbeze]

Kulich and Rosen did not make a single play anywhere that was remotely noticeable.

Rosen didn't pick up his man in front on the opening NJ goal

 

[Dingo44]

 

[joshjull]

My wimpy ankles couldn’t handle tying my skates like that. All the way up with the laces for me.

 

[Dingo44]

My wimpy ankles couldn’t handle tying my skates like that. All the way up with the laces for me.

I used to go nuts tying my skates as tight as possible including using a skate tightener for a while but now I keep the lower laces relatively loose, then the upper laces are tightish but I don't go nuts. I do like to use extra long waxed laces and I wrap the laces around the boot - have no idea when I started that but I've been skating for too long to remember.

Did anyone else get those callouses on the sides of their pinkies from tightening their skates? I used to almost take pride in them because as they got more calloused it was easier to tighten the laces.

 

[joshjull]

I used to go nuts tying my skates as tight as possible including using a skate tightener for a while but now I keep the lower laces relatively loose, then the upper laces are tightish but I don't go nuts. I do like to use extra long waxed laces and I wrap the laces around the boot - have no idea when I started that but I've been skating for too long to remember.

Did anyone else get those callouses on the sides of their pinkies from tightening their skates? I used to almost take pride in them because as they got more calloused it was easier to tighten the laces.

I remember that.

When my 3 daughters started playing they were on two teams, a boys house team and an all girls team. I helped coach the girls team. My pinkies were numb by the time I got to my skates.

 

[Chainshot]

 

[Tatanka]

I find this odd.

 

[HOOats]

I find this odd.

Care to share why? He's an elite u20 player who is not playing in the NHL. He should be there to dominate against his peers and remind the hockey world why he's a top 20 prospect.

 

[Tatanka]

Care to share why? He's an elite u20 player who is not playing in the NHL. He should be there to dominate against his peers and remind the hockey world why he's a top 20 prospect.

He is dominating against a level up on his peers. He has had two bites at the WJC so the experience is not new to him. He probably benefits more from AHL games. Benson has never been, will be part of a roster shuffle when Quinn is healthy and likely could use the opportunity to get his scoring touch back. Kulich doesn’t really benefit other than perhaps playing during an AHL break. So I thought it odd.

 

[Chainshot]

He is dominating against a level up on his peers. He has had two bites at the WJC so the experience is not new to him. He probably benefits more from AHL games. Benson has never been, will be part of a roster shuffle when Quinn is healthy and likely could use the opportunity to get his scoring touch back. Kulich doesn’t really benefit other than perhaps playing during an AHL break. So I thought it odd.

I would second your opinion on Kulich. He's done very well in previous trips to the tournament and is working on building his game against men in one of the better non-NHL pro leagues around. Other than a feel-good for him (and also probably some good will from the Czech national team folks), I am more worried that he winds up getting dinged while there and it then takes one of the most important players in the Amerks lineup away longer and doesn't really bring him closer to being in the NHL lineup regardless. I wondered earlier if the tentative plan was for him to go off to the U20s and then be up with the Sabres afterward, but that also was with the thought they might find a home for Olofsson. Instead, they continue to work him at center and it's an interesting progression to his game.

I have started to wonder if they want him to have the flexibility to play both center and wing at the NHL level. If that isn't the plan, running him out there as much as they have and in the situations they have doesn't fit in my mind.

As for Benson, if he wasn't getting chances or setting up chances, I could see it as a way to get his game going. But he's making plays that as yet aren't resulting in goals but likely will as things continue. But he might go if they're healthy enough. It could be a helluva boost for the Canadians but honestly, the Sabres would miss how much disruption he creates with how he competes for pucks.

 

[HOOats]

I would second your opinion on Kulich. He's done very well in previous trips to the tournament and is working on building his game against men in one of the better non-NHL pro leagues around. Other than a feel-good for him (and also probably some good will from the Czech national team folks), I am more worried that he winds up getting dinged while there and it then takes one of the most important players in the Amerks lineup away longer and doesn't really bring him closer to being in the NHL lineup regardless. I wondered earlier if the tentative plan was for him to go off to the U20s and then be up with the Sabres afterward, but that also was with the thought they might find a home for Olofsson. Instead, they continue to work him at center and it's an interesting progression to his game.

I have started to wonder if they want him to have the flexibility to play both center and wing at the NHL level. If that isn't the plan, running him out there as much as they have and in the situations they have doesn't fit in my mind.

As for Benson, if he wasn't getting chances or setting up chances, I could see it as a way to get his game going. But he's making plays that as yet aren't resulting in goals but likely will as things continue. But he might go if they're healthy enough. It could be a helluva boost for the Canadians but honestly, the Sabres would miss how much disruption he creates with how he competes for pucks.

Two questions: Why would he be any more likely to pick up a knock at WJC than AHL? It's all pretty random, but I'd assume AHL is more dangerous. Helicopter parenting is so 2010. Also, doesn't his continued work at center hint that you're right, they do want him to lock in that flexibility? Assuming he'll play C at WJC, I think he'd benefit from a brief step down to have his way with his peers. Adams clearly prefers to slow cook him, including at C, and a trip to Gothenburg to establish him as the best Czech player in his generation feels consistent with that.

 

[Chainshot]

Two questions: Why would he be any more likely to pick up a knock at WJC than AHL? It's all pretty random, but I'd assume AHL is more dangerous. Helicopter parenting is so 2010. Also, doesn't his continued work at center hint that you're right, they do want him to lock in that flexibility? Assuming he'll play C at WJC, I think he'd benefit from a brief step down to have his way with his peers. Adams clearly prefers to slow cook him, including at C, and a trip to Gothenburg to establish him as the best Czech player in his generation feels consistent with that.

Not as such a "oh, he shouldn't go" as a "this is a possible result". If that's helicopter parenting for you, m'kay. As an actual parent, I've operated far, far differently than that, but okay.

Seems like Kulich would be on the wing with Sapovaliv in the middle and Sale on the other wing again from what folks following the Czech U20 team are reporting and speculating. Maybe the Sabres have assurances that he'll play center, but for there isn't a lot of reason for the Czechs to kowtow to the Sabres rather than trying to ice what they think are their best lines and achieve the best possible results with that lineup.

 

[Tatanka]

I would second your opinion on Kulich. He's done very well in previous trips to the tournament and is working on building his game against men in one of the better non-NHL pro leagues around. Other than a feel-good for him (and also probably some good will from the Czech national team folks), I am more worried that he winds up getting dinged while there and it then takes one of the most important players in the Amerks lineup away longer and doesn't really bring him closer to being in the NHL lineup regardless. I wondered earlier if the tentative plan was for him to go off to the U20s and then be up with the Sabres afterward, but that also was with the thought they might find a home for Olofsson. Instead, they continue to work him at center and it's an interesting progression to his game.

I have started to wonder if they want him to have the flexibility to play both center and wing at the NHL level. If that isn't the plan, running him out there as much as they have and in the situations they have doesn't fit in my mind.

As for Benson, if he wasn't getting chances or setting up chances, I could see it as a way to get his game going. But he's making plays that as yet aren't resulting in goals but likely will as things continue. But he might go if they're healthy enough. It could be a helluva boost for the Canadians but honestly, the Sabres would miss how much disruption he creates with how he competes for pucks.

As for Benson sometimes getting a few to go loosens the grip. Plus I think it is a really big deal for a Canadian kid to be part of Team Canada for the WJC probably more so than any other country. But I agree it isn’t a development track more of a roster juggling short term fix.

 

[HOOats]

Not as such a "oh, he shouldn't go" as a "this is a possible result". If that's helicopter parenting for you, m'kay. As an actual parent, I've operated far, far differently than that, but okay.

Seems like Kulich would be on the wing with Sapovaliv in the middle and Sale on the other wing again from what folks following the Czech U20 team are reporting and speculating. Maybe the Sabres have assurances that he'll play center, but for there isn't a lot of reason for the Czechs to kowtow to the Sabres rather than trying to ice what they think are their best lines and achieve the best possible results with that lineup.

Hypothetically, what would the Czechs do if we said "you can't have your best player unless he plays center?" Seems like they'd have every reason to relent to us in that case, as they'd surely be better shuffling their lines with maybe the best player in the tournament than without.

 

[Chainshot]

Hypothetically, what would the Czechs do if we said "you can't have your best player unless he plays center?" Seems like they'd have every reason to relent to us in that case, as they'd surely be better shuffling their lines with maybe the best player in the tournament than without.

I would assume they would float it out there that Buffalo are being dinks. Since that hasn't happened, I'd assume that Adams and Appert are true to their word that they like the idea of a guy going to the tournament, excelling, and returning renewed. Adams does not seem that sly in his actions thus far either. *shrug*

 

[Old Navy Goat]

Keeping the Czech contingent happy will pay dividends when they grab Jecho in the 2nd round

 

[TheMistyStranger]

I remember that.

When my 3 daughters started playing they were on two teams, a boys house team and an all girls team. I helped coach the girls team. My pinkies were numb by the time I got to my skates.

My hands get very dry in the winter. It was normal for them to crack and bleed from tightening all the skates when I was coaching 8u