There are quite a few youngsters, like, ultra youngsters, you need to be watching as the Sabres continue their 2024-25 trek into January. Zach Benson has been a head-turner lately, and you can expect him to keep figuring things out as the season elapses into its second half.
Peyton Krebs, JJ Peterka, Jack Quinn, Owen Power, and Bowen Byram have also made strides this season. And yep, I’m including Quinn in that group these days, as after a slow start, it looks like his fortunes are finally changing for the better.
It should go without mentioning that Rasmus Dahlin is the ringleader here, with six goals and 26 points this season to go with a solid 6.8 shooting percentage, 44 blocks, 34 hits, and 12 takeaways in 30 games.
But as far as rising stars go, I don’t want to talk about any of the above today. Instead, there’s been one player who caught my attention a time or two earlier this season, and it seems like his play’s heating up.
No, he hasn’t played in a ton of games this year, but Jiri Kulich is looking more and more like that player, the one with a dangerous NHL shot the Blue and Gold need. In 28 games this season, Kulich has only seven goals, but with an 11.3 shooting percentage, it’s showing us that he’s taking advantage of the chances he’s given.
Jiri Kulich could be finding his niche with the Sabres
If the Sabres manage to turn things around and end up as ‘buyers’ at the trade deadline, then maybe Kulich, unfortunately, becomes a trading chip. He’s in just his age-20 season, so if the Sabres are in contention, moving him elsewhere would be something I couldn’t blame general manager Kevyn Adams for.
But, considering the circumstances the 2024-25 campaign has brought to the Sabres, chances are they’ll be selling, and Kulich’s 14:05 of average total ice time will only grow. For a 20-year-old, he’s been rather reliable at the faceoff dot, winning 86 and, overall, 48.9 percent of his draws.
At even strength, his Corsi For Percentage is a solid 54.1, which is the third-highest mark on the team among players who’ve seen time in at least 28 games. I’d love to see his 7.7 on-ice shooting percentage increase, but as mentioned, at least Kulich is scoring often when he fires the puck at the net.
Oh, then there’s the on-ice save percentage of 91.8. That number isn’t half-bad if you ask me, and once he’s ready to take his game to the next level, his defensive play should only grow.
So, while the Sabres, despite their awful record and even bleaker outlook, should January 2025 go to the wayside fast, this team is still ultra-young and has more than its fair share of limitless potential. Kulich is the latest player to join those ranks.