BUFFALO – The Sabres on Friday sent four of their top forward prospects – Jiri Kulich, Noah Ostlund, Isak Rosen and Tyson Kozak – back the Rochester Americans.
Kulich, Ostlund, Rosen all played for the Sabres in Thursday’s season-ending 5-4 win over the Philadelphia Flyers at KeyBank Center. They sat out Rochester’s home game Friday against the Toronto Marlies. Kozak has been out injured with a hip strain.
The Amerks have one regular-season game left before the Calder Cup Playoffs, a road rematch this afternoon with the Marlies.
The AHL announced late Friday the Amerks will begin their North Division semifinal series next Friday at home against the Syracuse Crunch.
Kulich, 21, is biggest surprise of the group. Other than a four-game stint in Rochester, where he spent the last two years, he played all season with the Sabres, registering 15 goals and 24 points in 62 contests as a rookie.
The Czech developed so rapidly he spent the final weeks of season centering winger Tage Thompson on the Sabres’ top line.
Following a standout NHL season, the Sabres want him to experience postseason hockey again. He has scored seven goals and 13 points in 17 career playoff games with the Amerks and 53 goals and 94 points in 123 career regular-season contests.
Ostlund, 21, just finished his first stint with the Sabres, compiling zero points in eight games. The Swede has scored 19 goals and 36 points in 44 outings with the Amerks this season.
Meanwhile, Rosen, 22, recorded one point, an assist, in eight appearances with the Sabres this season. The Swede has scored 28 goals and 55 points, both team highs, in 60 games for the Amerks this season.
Kozak, 22, compiled three goals and five points in 21 games as a rookie with the Sabres this season. He has registered eight goals and 14 points in 31 contests with the Amerks this year.
What is happening with Kozak next season?