It's time for the Buffalo Sabres to make a Jiri Kulich decision

Jiri Kulich needs to play hockey.

The 22-year-old Czechia native missed a majority of last season because of a blood clot. He returned for the start of the 2026-27 campaign, but he was sidelined for five games while in the NHL's concussion protocol and missed another game with an illness.

Now it appears, based on Tuesday's practice lines from Rachel Lenzi of the Buffalo News, the forward will probably be a healthy scratch for the second time this season Wednesday night against the Tampa Bay Lightning:

Yes, it's possible Lindy Ruff reverses course on game day, but the veteran head coach is typically pretty straightforward when it comes playing the lines that practice together.

Ruff discussed Kulich's status after the on-ice session:

"He's still searching for his game. I think all this time you hope you can get back to your game after a year off. I think there's two factors now: he came back, he got hurt, sat out some games, then he got hurt again. Soon as he was gonna get back in he took a puck to the face and got another concussion. So, he's really had three setbacks: a whole year and then a couple more.

He's struggling to find his game. I believe he still has it. It might just take time."

Lindy Ruff on Jiri Kulich

Before training camp, when it looked like the Sabres essentially had 10 or 11 forwards for nine spots on the top three lines, there was some fan discussion about whether Kulich would join the AHL's Rochester Americans, at least for a short period.

There are a lot of hurdles when it comes to finding your game at the NHL level. While that's true for any player, it's of particular concern for a player who only owned 75 games of experience at hockey's highest level before the long-term absence.

Now the AHL discussion is popping up again. Kulich finding himself on the lineup fringe, and occasionally being pegged as a healthy scratch, is a tough position for somebody who desperately needs ice time to figure things out.

At the same time, it's impossible to blame Ruff for icing what he believes is the best forward group. The Sabres find themselves in a loaded Eastern Conference where the fight for playoff spots is likely to come down to the final days. Every point matters.

If Buffalo can't afford to guarantee Kulich a lineup spot on game nights, it may be time to consider alternatives to help him get back on track.

Jiri Kulich could benefit from some time with the Amerks

Let's be clear: Kulich isn't playing terrible hockey. He ranks eighth among Sabres forwards in both 5-on-5 expected goal share (53.5%) and all-situations individual expected goals per 60 minutes (0.85), according to Natural Stat Trick.

Those are decent numbers but he's also an offense-first player who's recorded just three points (one goal and two assists) in 10 appearances this season.

Ruff referenced Kulich needing to find ways to make a more consistent impact when he's not stuffing the stat sheet.

"What does your 'B' game look like? Whether it's hanging on to pucks a little bit more, getting above the puck, playing well away from the puck sometimes can create extra chances," Ruff said Tuesday. "And then when you have it, don't complicate things but what's that next play you can make?"

Perhaps some time in Rochester could help him rediscover those second- and third-tier impacts.

Kulich would be ticketed to play a big-minute, high-leverage role with the Amerks. He'd operate as the AHL club's first-line center and help lead the No. 1 power play unit. He'd probably skate closer to 20 minutes a night compared to the 13 he's getting in Buffalo.

That feels like a better alternative than having him spend time in the press box while the Sabres desperately seek an offensive spark. It wouldn't necessarily be an extended stay down the 90, but it's a path to consistent action while the big club works through its issues.

Kulich is still an important part of the organization's future. He'd started to hit his stride late in the 2024-25 season before things got knocked off course because of the blood clot. There's nothing wrong with a little time in the minors to press the reset button in a lower-pressure environment.

A brief demotion could go a long way in helping the talented center reestablish himself as a key building block moving forward.

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