ROCHESTER – Buffalo Sabres prospect Jiri Kulich laughed. The Czech center possesses one of hockey’s most dynamic shots. In his career, he said he has scored twice by tipping the puck.
Kulich, 20, just happened to score his first NHL goal Oct. 17 by getting a piece of linemate Dylan Cozens’ shot.
“I don’t know if I’m really a tip guy,” a smiling Kulich said Friday prior to scoring in the Americans’ 6-3 win over the Hartford Wolf Pack in Blue Cross Arena. “I like (the) one-(time) spot a lot.”
Hours later, he registered his second power-play goal in as many outings since his assignment to the Amerks last Tuesday. Not surprisingly, he scored both goals by utilizing his ultra-quick release to one-time the puck from the right circle.
DYNAMIC DUO IS DYNAMIC DUO-ING! pic.twitter.com/ihoksm9Smh
— Rochester Americans (@AmerksHockey) November 9, 2024
File this one under Things You Absolutely LOVE to See…
JIŘÍ KULICH POWER PLAY GOAL! pic.twitter.com/smOjAHuhVS
— Rochester Americans (@AmerksHockey) November 7, 2024
Kulich’s lethal shot makes him one of hockey’s most intriguing goal-scoring prospects. But his transformation into more than a one-dimensional threat helped him earn a roster spot with the Sabres out of training camp and an eight-game look.
Roster space, not performance, forced the Sabres to send Kulich, the 28th overall pick in 2022, to the Amerks. They needed a spot to activate winger Zach Benson from injured reserve.
In the near future, the 6-foot-1, 190-pound Kulich will likely return to the Sabres. He figures to be their top recall option among forwards.
Center Tage Thompson, whose 11 goals and 18 points both lead the Sabres, suffered a lower-body injury in Monday afternoon’s 7-5 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. Coach Lindy Ruff, whose Sabres had Tuesday off, did not have an update on Thompson following the game.
If Thompson is sidelined more than a day or two, the Sabres could summon Kulich, who left a strong impression on Ruff.
Still, right now, Kulich, who’s playing center again after skating as a winger with Buffalo, is focused on his third AHL season. Coach Mike Leone said when the youngster joined the Amerks last week, he was “all in right away.”
“(That’s) the type of person, character he is,” he said. “He was really excited to play and get with the group. (He’s) familiar with a lot of teammates that he’s had from last year. He slid in and did a great job for us.”
Amerks assistant coach Vinny Prospal, who played 1,108 NHL games, said Kulich is “taking the right approach.”
“The only approach that he’s got to have,” he said. “Not to feel sorry for himself but to come out and lead this team.”
While Kulich’s goal in last Wednesday’s 4-2 road win over the Cleveland Monsters was nice, his overall performance in what is often a difficult game, the first one after being assigned to the AHL, a more chaotic brand of hockey, impressed Leone.
“He played a great game for us and he took our team to another level at times,” Leone said. “Not just his shot, but his compete, his work away from the puck, his relentless effort to doing the things that got him the opportunity to start the season with the Sabres and play the first month.
“It’s continued to build his confidence in his play away from the puck.”
Kulich, having scored 53 goals with Rochester, has plenty of confidence with the puck. Since training camp, he has matured into a stronger defensive presence.
“Don’t just think about (scoring),” he said of his recent improvements. “I have to help (the) team in different ways, too.”
Leone saw that right away in Cleveland.
“There was a clip in the third period where he hunts down D, (has) second and third efforts,” he said. “That’s who he is as a player.”