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

[Jacob582]

He's a C because he's not good on the boards...? Ugh...

Same concept Granato applied to Tage Thompson. Said being in the center opened things up for him.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Amerks Assistant Vinny Prospal:

"Where I see him personally (sigh/shoulder shrug), I see him at center, you know. That's why I want him to improve the faceoffs, because I think on the wall he is a little stuck. But that's just my opinion.....but that's how I see him. I see him as a center."

Vinny was one of my favorites when he played. He changed his game as he aged and stayed relevant for a long time, which is why I respect his opinion so much.

The fact that my love of hockey peaked when he was in the last chunk of his great career probably has a lot to do with it too.

Sounds like Kulich has the same problem as a lot of Buffalo Sabres have had these past few generations - can’t win puck battles along the boards. Here’s to hoping he can play center so he can get his value back up.

 

[Jacob582]

Interesting, I think they said he didn't look very good at center. How is he doing in his two-way game and defense in general? It turns out that the camp can have five players at once who can claim the role of 3C.

Vinny Prospal also said this:

"Is he an NHL player right now? I don't know. Maybe he'll come in here and tear it apart and grab a spot. I don't know."

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Vinny Prospal also said this:

"Is he an NHL player right now? I don't know

Vinny Prospal also said this:

"Is he an NHL player right now? I don't know. Maybe he'll come in here and tear it apart and grab a spot."

He’d be in hot water with Adams if he said “no.” There’s no way any development coach would ever say that publicly.

But he’s basically saying “no” here.

 

[Fjordy]

Vinny Prospal also said this:

"Is he an NHL player right now? I don't know. Maybe he'll come in here and tear it apart and grab a spot. I don't know."

That's right, they can't just give that spot to Krebs because he hasn't earned it. Any of our young C players could surprise and earn that spot.

 

[Jacob582]

He’d be in hot water with Adams if he said “no.” There’s no way any development coach would ever say that publicly.

But he’s basically saying “no” here.

Vinny also said Kulich needs to be more consistent (post #997). Can't have so many ups and downs in a season.

 

[HOOats]

Here’s to hoping he can play center so he can get his value back up.

Where exactly do you think his "value" is at the moment?

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

Same concept Granato applied to Tage Thompson. Said being in the center opened things up for him.

Ok I hope that's what he meant.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Where exactly do you think his "value" is at the moment?

Lower than it was heading into last season

 

[Beerz]

Lower than it was heading into last season

Because reasons.

 

[HOOats]

Lower than it was heading into last season

Eh. He's still a top 25 prospect in the league. One of the best u20 scorers in the world.

Prospal's comments were misinterpreted, hopefully not willfully. He might work better in space at C to get his shot off. That doesn't mean he can't win puck battles along the boards (based on a 19yo season in the AHL).

He's been relatively durable. He hasn't completely flunked out of the C experiment. His production remained excellent in WJC and AHL, even while working through some midseason doldrums that are entirely common for a 19yo and necessary to progress.

If he's a center, he's still trending as a middle six puck hound that's average defensively with one of the best shots in the world. If he's a wing, he still has a very high ceiling as a top six sniper.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Eh. He's still a top 25 prospect in the league. One of the best u20 scorers in the world.

Prospal's comments were misinterpreted, hopefully not willfully. He might work better in space at C to get his shot off. That doesn't mean he can't win puck battles along the boards (based on a 19yo season in the AHL).

He's been relatively durable. He hasn't completely flunked out of the C experiment. His production remained excellent in WJC and AHL, even while working through some midseason doldrums that are entirely common for a 19yo and necessary to progress.

If he's a center, he's still trending as a middle six puck hound that's average defensively with one of the best shots in the world. If he's a wing, he still has a very high ceiling as a top six sniper.

This isn’t the first time he’s talked about Kulich - Appert has said similar things too.

He’s fine, still a top prospect for the team but he may fall out of buffalo’s top 5 soon, with Whalberg and Rosen’s development, and Helenius entering the fold.

He isn’t anywhere near the top 25 prospects in the league for me personally.

 

[HOOats]

This isn’t the first time he’s talked about Kulich - Appert has said similar things too.

He’s fine, still a top prospect for the team but he may fall out of buffalo’s top 5 soon, with Whalberg and Rosen’s development, and Helenius entering the fold.

He isn’t anywhere near the top 25 prospects in the league for me personally.

Curious to see the upcoming prospect poll, I think you're well in the minority. This season would have to go very poorly for Kulich to get passed by Rosen or Wahlberg (or incredibly well for them).

Pros who cover prospects all still have him top 25 (20 mostly) but we'll see if enough shiny new toys from the 2024 draft push him down.

Being down on a solidly built, strong skating 19yo maybe center who did 27-18-45 in 57 AHL GP might be the epitome of Sabres doom. Is he a sure thing? Of course not, but he's probably in the 75th percentile of what he could have done since being drafted.

 

[Jacob582]

Kulich dominated world juniors. He's still a great prospect.

He needs what Prospal said: consistency for the full pro season.

 

[joshjull]

Kulich dominated world juniors. He's still a great prospect.

He needs what Prospal said: consistency for the full pro season.

If Prospal’s comments are indicative of how the organization feels about him. Then there is no way he is on the NHL roster to start the season.

 

[Jacob582]

If Prospal’s comments are indicative of how the organization feels about him. Then there is no way he is on the NHL roster to start the season.

If Kulich really wants to be a center then he should want to be in the AHL again. (As in, he's not ready)

But we know that's not how it works.

 

[toddkaz]

If Kulich really wants to be a center then he should want to be in the AHL again. (As in, he's not ready)

But we know that's not how it works.

A third year for Kulich in the AHL seems like a tough one to swallow for him. At some point he has to show he is ready. 20 year old Kulich doesn't seem much better than 18 year old Kulich. I feel like Savoie is more NHL ready but it would also be great to see him get a year in the AHL.

I think a spot is up for grabs between Kulich, Savoie or Rosen and its a matter of who performs best in the preseason.

 

[allsilverdreams]

A third year for Kulich in the AHL seems like a tough one to swallow for him. At some point he has to show he is ready. 20 year old Kulich doesn't seem much better than 18 year old Kulich. I feel like Savoie is more NHL ready but it would also be great to see him get a year in the AHL.

I think a spot is up for grabs between Kulich, Savoie or Rosen and its a matter of who performs best in the preseason.

I don't believe a spot is open this year for anyone.Unless they have a great preseason.
Next year will be a different story.

 

[Jacob582]

I don't believe a spot is open this year for anyone.Unless they have a great preseason.
Next year will be a different story.

I agree. No spots are available if everyone is healthy.

 

[Jim Bob]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1834058858509009240

I'm guessing that Ruff will like that quote.

 

[Chainshot]

I think half of that ten lbs is in his jaw line.

 

[Jim Bob]

Sabres prospect Jiri Kulich focused on becoming grittier, stronger presence - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Through some tough love, former Americans coach Seth Appert helped Sabres prospect Jiri Kulich realize he needed to evolve.

www.buffalohockeybeat.com

 

[TageGod]

Sabres prospect Jiri Kulich focused on becoming grittier, stronger presence - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Through some tough love, former Americans coach Seth Appert helped Sabres prospect Jiri Kulich realize he needed to evolve.

www.buffalohockeybeat.com

This could help me change my tune on him a bit.

 

[HogtownSabresfan]

Some of these draft picks need to taste the NHL or what's their value.

Kulich has two AHL easons. I don't even know what a third accomplishes. Rosen is from the 2021 NHL draft, and we are not even talking about him making a team.

"Prospects are great. Then some of them turn into suspects. Then some of them turn into rejects. You never know with drafts.'

Ted Nolan had this so right. I look at the so-called picks and yes, some great success. But a #1 overall, anyone can pick that. Peterka/Quinn? Boom. Nailed it. Benson. Maybe. But we have a bunch of stuff from the 2021 draft, nowhere near the NHL. Talk to me all you want about Poltapov's hot start -- it's in the KHL.

I like Novikov, but let's have one of these guys make the show. I will say the same thing about 2022 draft. Let's see one guy play meaningful minutes this year. I get D-men take longer.

I need NHL players and not just guys picked in the top 8 in lineup. Those should be slam dunk, lineup, guys. I need a guy like Ryan Johnson, picked 31st overall from 2019 to be playing serious minutes. At some point. Maybe Samuellson is that guy, if he stays healthy. Need more.

We haven't had many guys beyond the 1st round make this team. It's ugly.

I think we do have a good minor league system but we need to see one of these guys in the NHL this year. Give me sheltered minutes but give him some time in the show.

Take your browser and go back to Asplund, Pu, Guhle etc. etc. lot of busts in 2nd nd 3rd round.

With an internal cap now in play,. we need to see these guys make the NHL.

 

[Jim Bob]

Some of these draft picks need to taste the NHL or what's their value.

Kulich has two AHL easons. I don't even know what a third accomplishes. Rosen is from the 2021 NHL draft, and we are not even talking about him making a team.

"Prospects are great. Then some of them turn into suspects. Then some of them turn into rejects. You never know with drafts.'

Ted Nolan had this so right. I look at the so-called picks and yes, some great success. But a #1 overall, anyone can pick that. Peterka/Quinn? Boom. Nailed it. Benson. Maybe. But we have a bunch of stuff from the 2021 draft, nowhere near the NHL. Talk to me all you want about Poltapov's hot start -- it's in the KHL.

I like Novikov, but let's have one of these guys make the show. I will say the same thing about 2022 draft. Let's see one guy play meaningful minutes this year. I get D-men take longer.

I need NHL players and not just guys picked in the top 8 in lineup. Those should be slam dunk, lineup, guys. I need a guy like Ryan Johnson, picked 31st overall from 2019 to be playing serious minutes. At some point. Maybe Samuellson is that guy, if he stays healthy. Need more.

We haven't had many guys beyond the 1st round make this team. It's ugly.

I think we do have a good minor league system but we need to see one of these guys in the NHL this year. Give me sheltered minutes but give him some time in the show.

Take your browser and go back to Asplund, Pu, Guhle etc. etc. lot of busts in 2nd nd 3rd round.

With an internal cap now in play,. we need to see these guys make the NHL.

That is literally what happens across the NHL. 2nd & 3rd round picks are not guarantees to be solid NHLers.

In the 2014 Draft, 9 out of 30 2nd round picks have played 200+ NHL games. 12 picks have played 0 NHL games. In the 3rd round, it is 4 picks with 200+ games played (and 2 goalies with 190+) and 14 picks with 0 NHL games played.

A 2nd or 3rd round pick is roughly 50/50 to play 0 NHL games or 200+ NHL games and more likely to play less than 200 NHL games than 200+ NHL games.