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

[Chainshot]

His line was the only that won shot share against the Kings yesterday. NST had them with a 7-0 at 5-on-5 HDSC advantage. I liked how he was using his burst to get into the hands of his check low, disrupt things, and make it hard for the Kings to move out of the zone. Of all the lines, they surprised me the most.

 

[old kummelweck]

Did he play the whole game at center? Seems Lindy likes him at center.

 

[Chainshot]

Did he play the whole game at center? Seems Lindy likes him at center.

He did indeed play center all night.

 

[Jacob582]

Only 4 shifts for the Kulich line in the 3rd.

But he took a defensive zone faceoff with less than 5 minutes to go when LA was already playing in desperation mode.

(If I remember correctly they started their shift in the defensive zone. I remember thinking, wow Ruff trusts Kulich)

 

[TheMistyStranger]

He's getting chances. Goals will follow.

Lots and lots of them.

 

[toddkaz]

I liked his game yesterday. He was active and had himself in the right places.

His confidence looked good last night too. Looking forward to his next game.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

He did indeed play center all night.

Didn’t watch the game but I see he won 50% of his 6 faceoffs

 

[TageGod]

He did indeed play center all night.

So, you're telling me theres a chance (Cozens can free up on the wing).

 

[Chainshot]

So, you're telling me theres a chance (Cozens can free up on the wing).

A very slim one, yes. I could see Kulich getting time on a line with Cozens which opens up the idea of a guy rotating responsibilities at times. I suspect Ruff would like to put the McLeod line back together if/when Greenway is able to play.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

 

[TheMistyStranger]

8 for 11 on faceoffs? For BUFFALO?

 

[Dubi Doo]

Kid's earning his spot the right way. Love his game. Zucker is the perfect veteran presence on that line. What a great signing he's been. Just playing a hard nosed game no matter what line he's on.

 

[toddkaz]

The celebration afterwards was the best part of the goal. Hope he sticks with the big club this time around.

Credit to Ruff, feels like he is doing the right things to build Kulich's confidence.

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

Liked him more as soon as his draft interview was over. Hope he can turn into a legit top-six guy. Without a few guys from Rochester panning out to potential (Ostlund, Helenius, Wahlberg), there won't be any help coming to the FW group.

 

[toddkaz]

Can he get 20 goals this season? Wow he looked good tonight.

People's thoughts on his progress and where he lines up long term?

 

[Tatanka]

Consistency will be the question. Above average NHL release. Above average accuracy. Needs to show Consistency. Like all the others. We will see.

 

[Ace]

Can he get 20 goals this season? Wow he looked good tonight.

People's thoughts on his progress and where he lines up long term?

I think he just needs ice time. He’s the same player here as he was in Rochester…only without being the center of the power play. He plays straight forward attack style without the puck and drives the net with it. Plus he has an NHL+ shot. It’s why I always bristled at Olofsson comparisons or baseless attacks on his defending. He causes turnovers by attacking the puck carrier. Yes, it gets you caught when the rest of the team doesn’t know where they’re supposed to be…but Kulich gets his man. He is rarely out of position because he’s single minded focused on getting his man. It’s why I think he’s a winger…but he gets by at center because they did spend a couple years working with him on how to play a 200 foot game there. But I still think he’s a winger if you want the most out of him.

The way he plays is also why he and Rosen fit so well together. Kulich is a rush at the puck and force the carrier to make quick decisions guy. Rosen is a think the game one step ahead and be where the puck is going to go when he does that guy. Not surprised that Kulich and Benson have something going. Benson thinks the game a step or two ahead too. He sees how Jiri attacks and can figure out what happens next.

But the Olofsson comparisons were always as lazy as they were off base. Yes, he also has a great shot from the same spot. But Olofsson was neither willing nor capable of playing away from the puck. Kulich has been better, and FAR more willing, as a teenager than Olofsson was at 28. His defensive style may amount to “see the puck, attack the puck” but that’s better than half this team already.

I take it all the way back to what I said before we drafted him. I don’t see anything in his game that wasn’t going to work in the NHL…and he has a + shot on top of it. He doesn’t float. He doesn’t stick to the perimeter…even though with his shot he could probably get by doing it. He doesn’t get lost in his own end. I advocated for him at 16 in that draft. He hasn’t done anything since being drafted to prove me wrong.

 

[Ace]

One other note…I always thought any “he gets most of his goals on the PP” takes the last two years in Roch were missing the point. He was playing top line 5 on 5 minutes in the second hardest league in the world in the second half of his EIGHTEEN year old season. And all year as a nineteen year old. You don’t do that, on a team that won a lot no less, by being just a PP shot. That’s hard work against grown ass men who play physical. And he earned that ice. As a teenager.