BUFFALO, NY - The Buffalo Sabres head into the 2024-25 season with a lot of pressure to make the playoffs. If their top players can stay healthy, there is certainly a path for the team to make the post-season for the first time in more than a decade and they will also be aided by a great crop of young forwards - but which young forwards will make the final roster this fall?
The Sabres are in an interesting spot, where they've already folded in players such as Zach Benson, J.J. Peterka, Jack Quinn and rising star center Dylan Cozens - all of whom are 23 years old or younger. But more players are coming and they were on display Friday when the Buffalo Sabres Prospect Challenge kicked off. The event featured rookie squads from the Sabres, Devils, Senators, Bruins, Penguins and Blue Jackets and the home side had the most impressive roster. Heck, the line of 2024 first-rounder Konsta Helenius centering Noah Ostlund and Anton Wahlberg could be a great scoring line for AHL Rochester this season, assuming none of them crack the NHL lineup.
But the player I'm keeping an eye on is center Jiri Kulich, who had two goals for the Sabres prospect squad in a 3-1 tournament-opening win against Columbus. Kulich has spent the past two seasons with Rochester, notching 24 goals in 62 games, then 27 goals in 54 contests. He was incredible for Czechia at the world juniors in Sweden, powering his team to a wild comeback win in the bronze-medal game over Finland and earning tourney all-star honors in the process.
Simply put, Kulich scores goals when they are most needed. He's as clutch as they come, but he's also aware that he has to be trusted, too - which is why he spent much of the past season improving his 200-foot game.
"I was working on the defensive zone a lot, to be stronger and not just a goal-scorer," Kulich said. "I want to be more of a team player than last year."
The 20-year-old wore an alternate captain's 'A' for the Sabres rookie team and it's something that meant a lot to him.
"I'm grateful," Kulich said. "For me, I have to be a leader and I love to be a leader."
Based on how he has played in the AHL for the Amerks so far, it's hard not to see Kulich pushing for a regular job in Buffalo in the coming weeks. Having said that, it may come down to how some of his fellow youngsters perform and how many new coach Lindy Ruff can fit into his lineup alongside veterans such as Alex Tuch, Jason Zucker and Tage Thompson. Talents such as Kulich, Helenius and company are not suited for the fourth line and at that point, it's probably better they play 20 minutes a night in Rochester rather than eight minutes in Buffalo.
The Sabres have done a great job collecting talent recently, even if not all of those draft picks end up in a Buffalo uniform. GM Kevyn Adams bolstered his bottom-six and PK unit with the acquisition of Ryan McLeod from Edmonton, with top prospect Matt Savoie being the price paid. It was a steep price, but when you already had Benson playing a full season in the NHL and a player such as Kulich in the chamber too, it doesn't sting that much.
Whenever Kulich gets to the NHL, it's a good bet he's going to do some damage on the scoresheet - and that should have Sabres fans excited.
