BUFFALO – Having scored 51 goals over two seasons in the minors and already earned a recall to the NHL, a strong argument could’ve been made prior to the Prospects Challenge that Sabres center Jiri Kulich had outgrown the rookie tournament.
Then Kulich, 20, performed dominantly over the three games, scoring five goals, including two in Monday afternoon’s finale, an 8-5 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins in LECOM Harborcenter.
“He blew the doors off the tournament,” said Rochester Americans coach Mike Leone, who ran Buffalo’s bench. “He was excellent. Every time he was on the ice, the puck’s in the O-zone.”
So, yes, Kulich accomplished what was expected of him. Still, he needed those games to generate extra confidence entering a pivotal season in his development.
Training camp opens Wednesday, and while the Sabres essentially have a full roster, following two standout seasons in Rochester, he’s expected to make a strong push for a spot.
In addition to his lethal shot, the Prospects Challenge allowed the 6-foot-1, 190-pound Czech to showcase the strength he added during the offseason and a more mature game.
“I’m stronger and confident as well,” said Kulich, the 28th overall pick in 2022. “I’m not scared to go into battles.”
He added: “I felt more confident than years before.”
Leone, who had only seen Kulich play on video, said he learned about the youngster’s competitiveness.
“The amount of times he strips guys, even the plays in the neutral zone where he doesn’t have a play, a he doesn’t try to go one-on-one, he chips the puck to himself, stays on it,” he said. “He’s got an elite stick.
“But I was more impressed with the way he plays away from the puck. I mean, I think the first two games he had plus-seven scoring chances.”
The Sabres likely aren’t worried about Kulich scoring. He ranked among the AHL’s most dynamic scorers long before his 20th birthday. He has always created offense.
Ultimately, earning the trust of Buffalo’s coaches will help him crack the roster. If he carries his recent play into camp, he will make a strong case for a spot.
“You only can control what you can control,” Leone said. “So when the staff’s watching the game and he goes out there and has performance after performance after performance, it makes decisions harder. And that’s what you want, the inner competition.”
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In Monday’s first period, Sabres center Konsta Helenius, 18, slickly undressed a defender near the left circle and cut to the slot before hitting the side of the net. He also hit a post in the period.
The Finn, the 14th overall pick this year, did not score during the tournament. Still, he turned heads, generating offense and displaying maturity that belies his age.
“You can tell he’s played pro hockey before,” Leone said. “When you watch the game back, he stops on pucks, he’s got really good stick detail. The amount of plays that he breaks up on forechecks, his poise with the puck. …
“He was really good, he was electric.”
Notes: Winger Viktor Neuchev scored twice for the Sabres. Winger Anton Wahlberg also tallied. Winger Isak Rosen recorded three assists. … Sabres goalie Ryerson Leenders replaced Scott Ratzlaff after the second period. … The Sabres lost Jack Bodin and Norwin Panocha to upper-body injuries in Saturday’s 5-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils, leaving them with just four healthy defenders. Defenseman Simon-Pier Brunet wasn’t available after Friday’s game. The Sabres added defenseman Robert Calisti to the roster Monday and dressed 13 forwards and five defenders. … Leone said center Tyson Kozak left the game with an upper-body injury.