Jiri Kulich, what can he do in 2025/26 season

[LGR4GM]

Jiri Kulich had a decent rookie year at the age of 20. With 62games, 15g, and 9a, that's fairly solid with a 0.387ppg and a 0.242gpg as a rookie. He played 352 5v5 mins with Thompson this past year and they were pretty good together. 54.76xgf% and 53.15hdcf%. Interestingly Kulich was 3rd on the team in xgf% after Benson and Thompson at 50.91xgf%. As you can see Kulich's xgf drops down away from Thompson. Part of that is that half the minutes away from Thompson were played with Quinn who was not good last year, those 161mins with Quinn are 44.36xgf%. Kulich also has the 2nd best cf% on the team (if you just want to look at shots for and against) with a 51.62cf%. Basically Kulich at worst was a neural level player in terms of his contributions and for a 20yr old rookie, that's not bad at all. 

There's your numbers. He's one of the top guys in xgf, hdcf, and cf on the Sabres. Part of that comes down to deployment and linemates for sure. We also should note that teams will key in on Kulich's strengths more this season since they have tape on him. He only has 63 NHL games played, which means he is very inexperienced. At 21, it is hard to gauge what we should be expecting from Kulich. Peterka went from 32pts to 50 between years. That is a 36% increase which for Kulich puts him at 33pts in 62 games or 43pts if we ramp that up to a full 82 game season. If Kulich had played 77 games like JJP, he would have had 29pts (JJP had 32 his rookie year).

Would you be happy if Jiri Kulich at his age and experience managed to be a net positive level player overall with 43pts in 82games this season? That would be like 23g, 20a just to make it easier. If he manages that, is Buffalo a playoff team? Are you content with that level of progress from him?

Edited 16 hours ago by LGR4GM

[Eleven]

The only linchpin missing is a goaltender.  The other three wheels are secure even if Kulich falters.

[French Collection]

I thought he played well for a 20 year old. Being deployed at centre is not easy for rookies, a lot of good young centres begin on W and transition to C when they are stronger and more experienced.

IMO he could take JJPs wing spot and put up 20+ goals but it looks like he is penciled in to a C role. If TNT had Lindy’s trust at C and Norris was healthy, Kulich could play top 6 wing and thrive. Even a 3rd line role with McLeod could work.

I think he will end up more valuable than JJP because of his shot and ability to play C.

[dudacek]

I’m a little concerned Jiri might be the next in line for pitchforks because the fanbase has put unrealistic (1st-line centre) expectations on his shoulders that he’s just not ready for.

Hes a good player who is still finding his way. I think he’s more conscientious than Quinn or Peterka and safer than Cozens, but he’s the least talented of the 4 and IMO peaks as a 2nd-liner 2 or 3 years from now.

Theres an opportunity here to feed him middle six minutes with solid wingers where 20ish goals and 40ish points is possible this year and that’s the path I hope they take.

[Thorny]

26 minutes ago, Eleven said:

The only linchpin missing is a goaltender.  The other three wheels are secure even if Kulich falters.

17 minutes ago, dudacek said:

I’m a little concerned Jiri might be the next in line for pitchforks because the fanbase has put unrealistic (1st-line centre) expectations on his shoulders that he’s just not ready for.

Hes a good player who is still finding his way. I think he’s more conscientious than Quinn or Peterka and safer than Cozens, but he’s the least talented of the 4 and IMO peaks as a 2nd-liner 2 or 3 years from now.

Theres an opportunity here to feed him middle six minutes with solid wingers where 20ish goals and 40ish points is possible this year and that’s the path I hope they take.

Fanbase can only work with the pieces they are given 

[JP51]

Honestly, watched him play and thought here is a kid that can really play in this league... so I have hope that he makes a difference... only problem is, everytime I have hope.... well...  you know as well as I do... so, I am kinda numb to it all and in lets wait and see... lots a talk, team chemistry change new players etc... I am Missouri... show me... 

[PromoTheRobot]

Kulich is one part of several. I'd say Norris has just as much on his shoulders.

Edited 17 hours ago by PromoTheRobot

[mjd1001]

I have long been an advocate for keeping him and Tage together on a line.  If it doesn't work after a while, make the change, but at least start with it.  Why?  Their production last year:

-Tage was one of the best even strength goal scorers in the league last year, with him on the ice, the team scored a goal every 20.3 minutes (pretty good).

-However, when Tage and Kulich were on the ice together, the team scored a goal every 12.6 minutes. (and only allowed a goal every 18.5 minutes)

-For comparison:  Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner paired together had the Leafs scoring once every 17.4 minutes.

-Draisaitl and McDavid together had the Oilers score once every 13.1 minutes.

This also was done with a pretty decent sample size. Over 350 minutes together on the ice even strength. (over 20 games played as primary linemates)

Having Tage and Kulich start out together also doesn't have to come with added pressure.  They don't have to be the "#1" line. You can position them as just "one of 3 lines" that get rolled out there. 

Again, I have mentioned it in other posts, the numbers were SO good last year and the eye test had them playing so well together, I at least want to give that pair a shot this year and see how it goes.

 

[Doohickie]

No pressure, Juri.  You got this.

[GASabresIUFAN]

4 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

Jiri Kulich had a decent rookie year at the age of 20. With 62games, 15g, and 9a, that's fairly solid with a 0.387ppg and a 0.242gpg as a rookie. He played 352 5v5 mins with Thompson this past year and they were pretty good together. 54.76xgf% and 53.15hdcf%. Interestingly Kulich was 3rd on the team in xgf% after Benson and Thompson at 50.91xgf%. As you can see Kulich's xgf drops down away from Thompson. Part of that is that half the minutes away from Thompson were played with Quinn who was not good last year, those 161mins with Quinn are 44.36xgf%. Kulich also has the 2nd best cf% on the team (if you just want to look at shots for and against) with a 51.62cf%. Basically Kulich at worst was a neural level player in terms of his contributions and for a 20yr old rookie, that's not bad at all. 

There's your numbers. He's one of the top guys in xgf, hdcf, and cf on the Sabres. Part of that comes down to deployment and linemates for sure. We also should note that teams will key in on Kulich's strengths more this season since they have tape on him. He only has 63 NHL games played, which means he is very inexperienced. At 21, it is hard to gauge what we should be expecting from Kulich. Peterka went from 32pts to 50 between years. That is a 36% increase which for Kulich puts him at 33pts in 62 games or 43pts if we ramp that up to a full 82 game season. If Kulich had played 77 games like JJP, he would have had 29pts (JJP had 32 his rookie year).

Would you be happy if Jiri Kulich at his age and experience managed to be a net positive level player overall with 43pts in 82games this season? That would be like 23g, 20a just to make it easier. If he manages that, is Buffalo a playoff team? Are you content with that level of progress from him?

No and not even close.

The lynchpins, such as they are, are all the D not named Dahlin and UPL (or Levi).  Until this team proves that it can play defense and has a goalie that can be effective for at least 35-40 games, this team is DOA.  Kulich's emergence may help the offense replace JJP, but it does nothing to solve the fundamental flaws of this team under Howdy Doody.

[LGR4GM]

Changed the ***** title because this place can't handle the word linchpin. 

[dudacek]

1 hour ago, PromoTheRobot said:

Kulich is one part of several. I'd say Norris has just as much on his shoulders.

Considerably more Id say.

[Eleven]

29 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Changed the ***** title because this place can't handle the word linchpin. 

Really?

[Taro T]

5 hours ago, dudacek said:

I’m a little concerned Jiri might be the next in line for pitchforks because the fanbase has put unrealistic (1st-line centre) expectations on his shoulders that he’s just not ready for.

Hes a good player who is still finding his way. I think he’s more conscientious than Quinn or Peterka and safer than Cozens, but he’s the least talented of the 4 and IMO peaks as a 2nd-liner 2 or 3 years from now.

Theres an opportunity here to feed him middle six minutes with solid wingers where 20ish goals and 40ish points is possible this year and that’s the path I hope they take.

 

Umm, don't believe it is the fanbase that is giving serious consideration to lining him up next to Thompson (particularly if Norris & Thompson don't gel).  He should not be the #1 C at least until he gets a little stronger in his own end.  But whether he's 1C, 2C, 3C or 1/2LW; none of us have any say whatsoever in which of those he's lined up into.

[dudacek]

35 minutes ago, Taro T said:

 

Umm, don't believe it is the fanbase that is giving serious consideration to lining him up next to Thompson (particularly if Norris & Thompson don't gel).  He should not be the #1 C at least until he gets a little stronger in his own end.  But whether he's 1C, 2C, 3C or 1/2LW; none of us have any say whatsoever in which of those he's lined up into.

You read the site and you see plenty of references to him as the 1st line centre.

I don’t recall the Sabre brass ever referring to him that way.

He did play with Tage Thompson down the stretch when the guy they actually referred to as a possible 1C was hurt, but he was playing 4 minutes a game less than McLeod and 30 seconds more than Krebs.

[Taro T]

1 hour ago, dudacek said:

You read the site and you see plenty of references to him as the 1st line centre.

I don’t recall the Sabre brass ever referring to him that way.

He did play with Tage Thompson down the stretch when the guy they actually referred to as a possible 1C was hurt, but he was playing 4 minutes a game less than McLeod and 30 seconds more than Krebs.

Fair deuce.

But regardless of the reason why, he WAS the guy that was playing with Thompson down the stretch and if Norris and Thompson don't click, he's likely the "next man up."

[Carmel Corn]

I might be in the minority, but I still consider him more of a winger than a center.  I think the team really needs him to hit the 20g minimum mark to make enough of an impact, which IMHO his shot is good enough to do.

That being said, I'd still like to see the team make a deal to get a 2C.

[oddoublee]

I'd be over the moon if he scores 20 goals and ends with 35-40 points. 

I expect 15-15 from him. And will be happy with that in his sophomore season.

And No, a 43 point season does not get them in the playoffs. Coaching  D a goaltending will undo them regardless

[GASabresIUFAN]

6 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

Changed the ***** title because this place can't handle the word linchpin. 

Maybe a better title would have been is Kulich the lynchpin for the offense.  There I might agree.  

[LGR4GM]

10 hours ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Maybe a better title would have been is Kulich the lynchpin for the offense.  There I might agree.  

Removed it entirely so we don't have to worry about it. Let's just say "Kulich is important to the offense and here's what the numbers look like..." 

Also it might have gotten buried but I put Kulich at 23g, 20a for the 2025 season. 

[Pimlach]

It’s crazy to expect him to play 1C in a full time role. 
 

He is a young player with much promise that still learning his way.  His skill gets him minutes at 2C but he will be sheltered at times and McLeod will likely get more minutes. 

[GASabresIUFAN]

20 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Removed it entirely so we don't have to worry about it. Let's just say "Kulich is important to the offense and here's what the numbers look like..." 

Also it might have gotten buried but I put Kulich at 23g, 20a for the 2025 season. 

I wrote in the lineup thread that there is about 50 ways to make this years forward combo since no one, including management, knows where to slot the centers and where to play them.  If Kulich draws in with Thompson and plays well, he could be a 50 pt player.  If he draws in with Greenway and Quinn, he could end up back in Rochester. 

I really like Kulich and I think he handles the moment well and produces.  I think we’ll see more assists than goals this year in support of guys like Thompson.  Something like 21g 27a.  

If Kulich can handle top 6 minutes successfully, the Sabres offense slots together so much easier and shouldn’t miss a beat 5 on 5.  

Edited 4 minutes ago by GASabresIUFAN

[dudacek]

10 hours ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Maybe a better title would have been is Kulich the lynchpin for the offense.  There I might agree.  

So by this you mean he’s the guy most likely to make or break the forward corps?

I can see this argument:

Centre is the most important position and the Sabres weakest.

Norris is an unreliable 2nd, McLeod a good three and Krebs just a guy

So if Kulich can’t be a reasonable top 6 player, they’re hooped.

I don’t agree with it, but I can see the reasoning.