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, 2023. Each participant used their own metric of current ability and production to rank each player. Staff votes counted equally with reader votes.
Jiří Kulich
Drafted: 2022 – 1st Round (28th Overall)
Position: C
Born: April 14, 2004 – 19 years old
2022-2023 stats: Rochester Americans (AHL) – 62 GP – 24-22-46; Playoffs – 12 GP – 7-4-11
2022 T25U25 Ranking: 17th
Jiří Kulich had a great season last year with the AHL’s Rochester Americans, period. It certainly seemed like a breakout-caliber season for the youngster, and is even more impressive when you realize that it was his first season in North America. Adjusting to the NA game is no doubt a challenge for many players, so for Kulich to make the jump & make an immediate impact is a great sign of things to come for him.
Kulich finished the season tied for seventh among AHL rookies in scoring and was fifth on the Amerks when it comes to that marker. His nine power play goals, more than half of his goal total, led the Amerks. He also took 158 shots, the most of any player in Rochester, and did a good job staying out of the penalty box, accruing only 18 penalty minutes over the course of the season.
It came as no surprise, then, when Kulich was a key player for the Amerks in the Calder Cup playoffs. He racked up seven goals and added four assists, averaging nearly a point per game, and was third on the team in scoring. That included four points in three games against Syracuse and five points in three games against Toronto, helping power the team to its first conference finals since 2004.
He was later named to the AHL’s top prospects team, a well-deserved honor.
In addition, Kulich represented Czechia at the World Juniors, and again, made quite an impact. He registered nine points in seven games as Czechia won bronze, including a goal in the final game and the overtime game-winner in the semifinal. He also scored in the quarterfinal, truly coming in clutch at all times when it mattered for his team.
Here’s what he had to say earlier this summer at the Sabres’ prospects challenge:
Kulich was assigned to the Amerks earlier this week and will begin his second season in the AHL, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if he plays himself into an NHL call-up before long.