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

[Fjordy]

Studsville. I remember him getting drafted not really knowing who he was & then hearing every insider & analysts take on him & I am pretty happy about his whole game so far.

Projected for 20 or more goals in his first semi full season as a rookie is DOMINANT imho.

As much flack & I & everyone else on these boards have given KA/staff & ownership (rightfully so) I'm loving these draft selections so far. Benson, Rosens looking good, Kulich, Konsta, Wahlberg etc

That's the one thing Adams done well at, although I don't like all the choices, I'm generally okay with most of them.

 

[MagnumForce2]

Let’s hope Rosen follows a similar path.

 

[TheMistyStranger]

This is tough because of obvious recency bias, but is Kulich making Tage better? It looks very much like yes to me, but I'd be curious if others share that opinion.

 

[Ace]

I think playing wing is making Tage better…so in that way yes. Being a center means it’s harder to get up ahead of the rush which is a place Tage is so dangerous. You have more responsibility covering more ice. He’s freer now because Kulich has been able to step into the middle

And playing with Tage obviously benefits Kulich a ton too. Teams are just learning about him…but they know Tage…and being on the ice opens up space for Kulich to do his Kulich things. Peterka too. Those are three quality shooters.

I still wonder how any of them would look with a playmaker in the mix but we seem determined to never find out about that.

 

[EXTRAS]

What's his upside?

 

[Ace]

What's his upside?

He's on a 25 goal pace as a rookie without a power play bumping him up. Which is fun because in the AHL he was a PP goal demon. So there’s a lot more if they ever clean it up. He can score as many as he gets the chance to score. Special shot. Worked hard to learn the rest of the game. When you have a guy who works hard and has an elite trait the upside is high. I still think he’s an eventual top line winger…but that doesn’t happen in a place that doesn’t have centers.

 

[Fjordy]

What's his upside?

He's on a 25 goal pace as a rookie without a power play bumping him up. Which is fun because in the AHL he was a PP goal demon. So there’s a lot more if they ever clean it up. He can score as many as he gets the chance to score. Special shot. Worked hard to learn the rest of the game. When you have a guy who works hard and has an elite trait the upside is high. I still think he’s an eventual top line winger…but that doesn’t happen in a place that doesn’t have centers.

Matthews? Pasta? Something in between.

 

[GettingYourMoms]

Matthews? Pasta? Something in between.

Maybe Kyle Connor with better jawline?

 

[Ace]

Matthews? Pasta? Something in between.

Well no one is Matthews. The guy has elite be where the puck is going energy along with elite shot. Kulich is more like a freight train that also has a killer release. He picks his space, puts his head down and goes to there. But that’s at 20. Who knows what his game will form into as it slows down and he gets experience. Players change so many little things. It’s why I always bet on ones that have an elite trait somewhere in the mix.

 

[GettingYourMoms]

Well no one is Matthews. The guy has elite be where the puck is going energy along with elite shot. Kulich is more like a freight train that also has a killer release. He picks his space, puts his head down and goes to there. But that’s at 20. Who knows what his game will form into as it slows down and he gets experience. Players change so many little things. It’s why I always bet on ones that have an elite trait somewhere in the mix.

Pastrnak for example was pure playmaker when he was drafted his scoring came out of nowhere. You are right that we will not have any idea about Kulich, maybe after two seasons with Sabres.