The Top 25 Under 25 is a collaboration by members of the Die By The Blade community. It was a combination of staff writers and over 200 readers that ranked Buffalo Sabres players under the age of 25 as of August 1, 2024. Each participant used their own metric of current ability and production to rank each player. Staff votes counted equally with reader votes.
Drafted: 2022 – 1st Round (28th Overall)
Position: Center
Born: April 14, 2004 (20 years old)
2023-24 Stats: Rochester Americans (AHL) – 27-18-45 in 57 GP; Buffalo Sabres (NHL) – 0-0-0 in 1 GP
2023 T25U25 Ranking: 8
2022 T25U25 Ranking: 17
Jiri Kulich followed up a solid rookie season in the AHL with a respectable sophomore season that saw him finish third on the Amerks in points while leading the team in goals. He recorded seven power play goals, five game-winning tallies and was tied for ninth in the league in goals – pretty good for a kid playing just his second season in North America,
He also appeared in seven games for Czechia at World Juniors, where he absolutely dominated with 12 points in just seven games and helped his country win bronze. He had four points in the medal game. Kulich also made his NHL debut on November 25, 2023 in a game against the New Jersey Devils, skating 14:53 with one shot and 16 shifts.
The question now is: what’s next for Kulich? He’s in Buffalo this week for the Prospects Challenge, a nice little precursor to the NHL training camp which kicks off next week. Kulich will undoubtedly compete hard, and is expected to challenge for a roster spot in the NHL. It won’t be easy, given the sheer number of forwards the Sabres have signed at this point, but if Kulich has a really strong camp, he’ll make it hard for Sabres brass to send him to Rochester.
Regardless of where he ends up starting the season, or playing the rest of it, things will look a little different for Kulich. With Lindy Ruff at the helm in Buffalo and Michael Leone taking over in Rochester, it’s a different system and a new game. No matter where he plays, Kulich will get a chance to flourish and continue to grow his game, and we should see him in the NHL soon, one way or another.
