The Sabres have assigned winger Jiri Kulich to AHL Rochester, per a team announcement. The move paves the way for Zach Benson to come off injured reserve before tonight’s game against the Senators, which head coach Lindy Ruff told reporters yesterday was an option. The team’s Heather Engel confirmed Benson was back on the active roster.
Kulich, 20, was the final of Buffalo’s three selections in the first round of the 2022 draft. The Czech forward immediately came over to North America, suiting up for Rochester in his post-draft year. He was one of the club’s best players over the previous two seasons, accumulating 51 goals and 91 points in 119 games and representing them at the 2024 AHL All-Star Game. He made his NHL debut last season during a brief call-up in November, registering a -1 rating and a shot on goal in a lone appearance.
As such, his stock was high heading into training camp. After an impressive preseason, Kulich found himself on the Sabres’ opening night roster for the first time, although he was a healthy scratch for their season opener against the Devils in his home country. He’s gotten extended looks in the lineup, including a four-game stretch without being scratched in late October, but hasn’t been able to make the offensive impact the team hoped. Through eight appearances, Kulich has one goal and no assists with three blocks and five hits. It’s not for a lack of ice time – Ruff has deployed him for an average of 14:36 per game. He’s done well to get pucks on net, totaling 17 shots on goal, but he’s finishing at just 5.9%. The Sabres are also controlling 48.8% of shot attempts with Kulich on the ice at even strength compared to 55.5% without him.
Thus, a little more seasoning in Rochester should be helpful for the cerebral 6’1″ forward. His underwhelming start, combined with the fact that he’s the only waiver-exempt skater on the active roster, made it clear he would be heading down when Benson was ready to return.
The 19-year-old Benson hasn’t gotten off to the smoothest start this season either. He sustained a lower-body injury in the season opener, causing him to miss the second of the two games in Europe against New Jersey. He tried playing through the injury upon returning to North America, but after being held scoreless through six games with a -4 rating, Benson was shut down in mid-October. After a five-game absence, he’ll be back in the lineup against Ottawa on the team’s second line with Dylan Cozens and Jack Quinn, per Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News.