There could be a few open spots on the Buffalo Sabres roster in 2023, and Jiri Kulich is a front runner to take one. Here is why he’s such a sound option.
Having earned a spot on the AHL’s Top Prospects Team, Jiri Kulich is one of the more serious contenders in this ‘Why They Can’ series to earn a place in the Buffalo Sabres lineup. Having led the Rochester Americans in goals in the regular season and the playoffs, it’s clear that Kulich is a playmaker, and that he will at least get a long look in camp barring any unforeseen regression in his play.
So what makes Kulich such a sound prospect to join the Blue and Gold for 2023-24 and beyond? Check out these three reasons.
Why Jiri Kulich can earn a spot with the Buffalo Sabres
1 – Goal-scoring machine
This is a kid who totaled 31 goals in 74 total games (regular season and playoffs), including 13 combined power play goals. We know that the Buffalo Sabres may be interested in moving winger Victor Olofsson this offseason, and if that’s the case, Kulich could serve as the immediate replacement thanks to his scoring ability.
While there will be a definite learning curve for Kulich, if he adapts to the NHL even half as quickly as he adapted to the AHL and by extension, the North American game, then he can find himself taking on more than just the role Olofsson would leave behind. There is much more to Kulich’s game than just scoring goals, and that would ultimately make him an upgrade for the Sabres.
2 – Fast Learner
The North American and European games are different in a few ways. And despite being just 18 years old for most of the 2022-23 season, learning the North American game barely fazed Kulich, and it shows us how quickly he can learn and adapt.
While the NHL game requires more of a learning curve than the AHL, Kulich could pick up on the speed of the game faster than other prospects like Isak Rosen and Matt Savoie. In terms of experience, only Lukas Rousek and Brett Murray have an advantage over Kulich.
3 – Aggression
I stated earlier that Kulich brings more to his game than Victor Olofsson, who was primarily a scorer and little else. Kulich has shown time and again his willingness to hustle up and down the ice, play defense when he got the hang of it, and constantly battle for the puck.
In the NHL, such aggression is needed. And the lack of it that Olofsson showed has basically made him a fringe piece of the roster. That, in time, won’t be the case with Kulich.
(Statistics provided by theAHL.com)