Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - When the Sabres drafted Jiri Kulich 28th overall in the 2022 NHL Draft, the Czech-born winger said right away he would make the NHL roster in his first season.
"No," said Kulich when asked if there was a Plan B right after his drafting.
It hasn’t worked out that way, as he’s only played one NHL game in his first two professional seasons. Kulich has played 119 regular season games with the Rochester Americans, to go along with 17 playoff games.
In his rookie year, Kulich scored 24 goals and added 22 assists for 46 points in 62 games. In 12 Calder Cup Playoff games, he had seven goals and four assists for 11 points. However, he did not score in the Eastern Conference Final against an older and bigger Hershey Bears team.
At 19, Kulich was an AHL All-Star, netting 27 goals and 18 assists for 45 points in 57 games. But his five playoff games this year were not good, as he didn’t score a goal.
Between March 15 and the end of the season, Kulich had 10 goals in 15 games. Before that, though, he only had one goal in 19 games.
Watching Kulich in the playoffs against the Syracuse Crunch, the young forward was a target in the playoffs, and he didn’t know how to handle that first time experience.
The same thing happened to Jack Quinn back in the 2022 Calder Cup Playoffs, where 26 regular season goals in 45 games made him a target as well. Quinn became a better player for it, and Kulich likely will too.
After the series loss to the Crunch, many players talked about the season that was in Rochester. Kulich has more of an understanding of pro hockey after two seasons with former Amerks head coach Seth Appert.
“I loved to be here, and I loved to play in front of our fans. But I had a couple of times where I tried to find myself, especially after the World Juniors (when the one goal in 19 games stretch took place)," Kulich said during his end-of-season press conference. "The start of the season was great, but the two months after the World Juniors, I couldn’t find myself. But then everybody in the locker room just helped me to be better in other things.
"In the last 20-to-25 games, we played really good as a team. So I think I improved in the defensive zone and with physicality too. I think I found myself then."
Kulich’s best friend is Isak Rosen. They sometimes play on the same line, and both were former first-round picks of the Sabres.
The Czech-born forward says he loves all his teammates, and had a lot of fun with them.
In Kulich’s one NHL game this season, it really wasn’t fair at all to evaluate him. That game saw the Sabres totally imploded, losing in New Jersey to the Devils, 7-2. Buffalo got behind 4-0 in the first period, and Kulich played 14:53 with one shot and one hit.
Kulich has gotten that first taste of the NHL, and is already eager for more.
"I must work hard, as hard as I can, and then we’ll see," Kulich said.
In the playoffs, I didn’t see a player in Rochester that’s ready for the NHL yet. However, Kulich is still just 19-years-old.
The Sabres do open the 2024-25 season next year in Kulich’s home country of Czechia, when they play the Devils on Oct. 4 and 5. I’m sure he’d love to be in the lineup for that, which I’m sure will drive him for his summer workouts.
Buffalo has a great sports science department, and I think the best thing Kulich, Rosen and maybe even defenseman Ryan Johnson could do is take a break, and then get back to Buffalo to work with the Director of Physical Performance and Head Strength Coach, Ed Gannon.
