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

[dudacek]

31 minutes ago, Weave said:

I could see Tage moving back to C and Kulich on the wing if he falters.  Probably not the same line thougj.

Yeah, I think if things don’t work down the middle, Tage is the obvious solution.

I just think the lynchpin argument ignores the fact that Jiri is still the 3rd option for 1C minutes. As it stands right now, Norris is the first option and McLeod the 2nd.

If Kulich is on that role things have either gone horribly wrong, or incredibly right.

[pi2000]

On 7/30/2025 at 9:01 AM, LGR4GM said:

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?

If he centers Thompson and Tuch, he should easily eclipse 40points.   

Swap in Benson for Tuch and 40 points is probably the number. 

He's shown improvement every season of his pro career, I would expect that to continue.   

[mjd1001]

6 hours ago, Archie Lee said:

I think you are right and they should start out with them together. I have no issue with it. And, as you say, they don’t have to be “line 1”. However, the stat that shows they were so good on the ice together, is very reminiscent of last year’s Quinn is one of the best 5v5 producers in the league stat,  that was used to support he was ready for a breakout. Maybe this time it is true. That Quinn was being compared to McDavid and MacKinnon, was likely evidence that the sample size was far too small to give it any credence.

The difference with Quinn is that:

-He stopped going to the net.

In 2022-23 Quinn had a shot from the front of the net ('high danger' area) once ever 1.7 games played.

In 2023-24 Quinn had a shot from in front of the net every once every 2.25 games played.

Last year, he had a stont from in front of the net once every 7.4 games played.

 

The 1.7 and the 2.25 numbers aren't stellar (Tuch gets one about ever 1.2 games, Kulich himself once ever 1.6 games played), But the drop-off with Quinn to once every 7.4 games basically makes him the most 'perimeter' scoring forward in the league.

Something happened to Quinn. Mentally? Physically? I don't know, but his game turned in such a way that was greater than almost any other player I can remember in recent memory year-over-year without much of an explanation to justify it.  

I can see Kulich maybe having his game slide a bit due to adjustments. I cannot see happening to him what happened to Quinn last year simply because of the above.

 

Edited 23 hours ago by mjd1001

[PerreaultForever]

I've always liked Kulich. liked the draft pick. Think he has a bright future still. We are, as always, rushing him a little so a sort of drop off or sophomore slump is highly possible and I wish there was a plan B for that possibility but there isn't, so hopefully he can work through anything like that and keep developing. 

If Kulich and Benson have sophomore slumps (using the term loosely) the season is over before Christmas. There is too much pressure and reliance on them succeeding but it is what it is.

[JohnC]

20 minutes ago, PerreaultForever said:

I've always liked Kulich. liked the draft pick. Think he has a bright future still. We are, as always, rushing him a little so a sort of drop off or sophomore slump is highly possible and I wish there was a plan B for that possibility but there isn't, so hopefully he can work through anything like that and keep developing. 

If Kulich and Benson have sophomore slumps (using the term loosely) the season is over before Christmas. There is too much pressure and reliance on them succeeding but it is what it is.

Isn’t there also a good chance that both Benson and Kulich have bump up seasons? 

[dudacek]

19 minutes ago, JohnC said:

Isn’t there also a good chance that both Benson and Kulich have bump up seasons? 

Just in terms of how NHL trends generally work, one would expect.

McLeod and Zucker to take a step back after surprising seasons.

Power, Quinn and Benson to take a step up as rising talents who have been around a bit.

Timmins, Greenway and Norris to miss a lot of games.

And who the ***** knows with UPL?

The rest of them are probably too new or too established to pick much of a shift one way or the other although I think Byrams going to have a good year and I wonder how Kesselring handles the new system and increased role.

[Taro T]

35 minutes ago, dudacek said:

Just in terms of how NHL trends generally work, one would expect.

McLeod and Zucker to take a step back after surprising seasons.

Power, Quinn and Benson to take a step up as rising talents who have been around a bit.

Timmins, Greenway and Norris to miss a lot of games.

And who the ***** knows with UPL?

The rest of them are probably too new or too established to pick much of a shift one way or the other although I think Byrams going to have a good year and I wonder how Kesselring handles the new system and increased role.

That's a big concern.  It seems way too often that D-men fall off a bit in their 1st year in a new location needing to learn the new system (when they go to a place that actually employs one; and not to go too Neil Peart here, but if you choose not to system you still have A system 😉 ) and learn their new partner.  Hoping they'll fit right in (Bernard-Docker seemed to, maybe he'd've slumped off this year without the adrenaline of midseason change when you're already in game condition), but wouldn't be shocked if it takes a significant portion of the season for him and Timmons to do so.

[PerreaultForever]

2 hours ago, JohnC said:

Isn’t there also a good chance that both Benson and Kulich have bump up seasons? 

This what the Sabres hope for from somebody every year right? More likely it's up and down or one up one down (like Peterka and Quinn last year) and that won't be enough. Hopefully no Cozens yet. No guy who completely loses his game.

As an aside I am interested to see if Cozens regains his game with a full season in a new setting and a proper training camp. Won't matter, but just one of those things you look at and wonder. 

[JohnC]

4 minutes ago, PerreaultForever said:

This what the Sabres hope for from somebody every year right? More likely it's up and down or one up one down (like Peterka and Quinn last year) and that won't be enough. Hopefully no Cozens yet. No guy who completely loses his game.

As an aside I am interested to see if Cozens regains his game with a full season in a new setting and a proper training camp. Won't matter, but just one of those things you look at and wonder. 

With respect to Cozens, I believe that he would be better at wing than at center. I also believe that the trade was the right thing to do for the player. It gives him an opportunity to have a fresh start and new chance to refresh his game. He was pressing too hard here.  

[PerreaultForever]

1 minute ago, JohnC said:

With respect to Cozens, I believe that he would be better at wing than at center. I also believe that the trade was the right thing to do for the player. It gives him an opportunity to have a fresh start and new chance to refresh his game. He was pressing too hard here.  

I was suggesting wing for him ages ago as well. I don't think his on ice vision is all that good and his thinking is a little slow (relative to the speed of the game). So he's indecisive and sometimes that costs him precious seconds and he also sees one wing but not both and then makes bad decisions. As a winger he could use his size and limit his focus to one side of the rink but whatever, no longer our problem. We will see what their coaching and camp does with him and for him. 

[JohnC]

1 hour ago, dudacek said:

Just in terms of how NHL trends generally work, one would expect.

McLeod and Zucker to take a step back after surprising seasons.

Power, Quinn and Benson to take a step up as rising talents who have been around a bit.

Timmins, Greenway and Norris to miss a lot of games.

And who the ***** knows with UPL?

The rest of them are probably too new or too established to pick much of a shift one way or the other although I think Byrams going to have a good year and I wonder how Kesselring handles the new system and increased role.

If you add Kulich to your rising talent group that will be a fairly large group within a roster. 

With respect to McCleod and Zucker, even if their scoring production declines a bit, they still play a responsible two-way game that this team needs more of. 

As you note, the big question mark is UPL? Will he return to the promising composed form he displayed a couple of years ago or will go back to his panic style of play that marred his last season? It's the big question that will determine how the upcoming season plays out. 

[dudacek]

In the case of Kulich, players do not typically take a big jump after 60ish games.

Its a big reason why I’ve been preaching caution with him.

Not saying it can’t happen, but it’s not typical

[Night Train]

Grow. Eat a sandwich.

 

and score a bit..

[JohnC]

11 hours ago, dudacek said:

In the case of Kulich, players do not typically take a big jump after 60ish games.

Its a big reason why I’ve been preaching caution with him.

Not saying it can’t happen, but it’s not typical

I will be stubbornly uncautious about my positive views of Quinn and Kulich for the upcoming season. 
 

I can’t honestly make that same judgment about UPL. As like you, I just don’t know???