Jiri Kulich had surgery to remove blood clot

Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) - On Tuesday the Buffalo Sabres started locker cleanout after losing Game 7 to the Montreal Canadiens on Monday in overtime 3-2.

Jiri Kulich came into this season with so much promise. In his rookie season he had 15 goals in 62 games and really seemed to be improving as the year went on. This season he played 12 games and then on Nov. 1, his year came to a screeching halt.

Kulich was found to have a blood clot and he was done playing hockey until it dissolved. That didn't happen and his season officially ended a two months ago when he went to the Mayo Clinic to have the clot removed. The kid didn't know if he'd ever play hockey again, but after the surgery, he knew he would,

"It was tough year, but at the same time, I can take advantage of it in a positive way, just trying to be a better player and this year helped me to even be a better person too, so it was a rollercoaster because the only thing I was asking myself was if I'm going to be able to play hockey again, so that was the toughest part, but I'm just so grateful how this organization treated me and they were helping me every single day and everything is going the right way and I'm looking forward to next season."

This didn't start has being a season ending injury, Kulich said,

"I felt like I'm going to be able to play hockey this season, I thought it was going to take a month, maybe two months and I was going to be ready for playing hockey, but unfortunately it was still there."

Kulich and Noah Ostlund were both first-round picks in 2022. Buffalo also took Matt Savoie ninth overall in the same draft and he's now with the Edmonton Oilers. In 87 games Savoie has 18 goals and 20 assists for 38 points. Ostlund has 11 goals and 16 assists for 27 points in 68 games while Kulich has 18 goals and 11 assists for 29 points in 75 games.

Zach Benson was Buffalo's first-round pick in 2023 and Konsta Helenius was their first-round selection in 2024. All of them seem to be done developing in Rochester and Kulich seemed very excited to be part of this young core,

"Oh my god, I can't even describe how excited I am for next season, just watching those guys it's just awesome. I'm so glad I can be a part of this team even though I wasn't playing, so it was really nice to see them doing really well."

Buffalo has other top prospects that are high picks. The Sabres have three very big and highly touted right handed shooting defensemen. Radim Mrtka was take in the first round last June. Adam Kleber is thought of just as highly as Mrtka. He plays at Minnesota-Duluth and Maxim Strbak was recently signed out of Michigan State.

Helenius still has more hockey to play. On Wednesday he's leaving for Switzerland to play for Finland at the World Championship.

On Wednesday, Rasmus Dahlin, Tage Thompson, Alex Tuch and Mattias Samuelsson will speak as will others. On Wednesday afternoon Lindy Ruff and Jarmo Kekalainen will speak starting at 4:20. You'll be able to hear them live on WGR Sports Radio 550.