Kulich (concussion) participated in Tuesday's practice and is close to being ready to return, according to Rachel Lenzi of The Buffalo News.
Kulich also participated fully in Monday's practice and could be an option against Ottawa on Wednesday. He has missed the last four games while going through concussion protocol.
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Sabres' Jiri Kulich: Good to go
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Kulich (concussion) is expected to return to the lineup against Ottawa on Wednesday, Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News reports.
After missing the last four games with a concussion, Kulich fully participated in Monday's practice. He is projected to play on the top line against the Senators. Kulich has one goal, two assists, nine shots on net, three blocked shots and seven hits in eight appearances this season.
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Sabres' Jiri Kulich: In concussion protocol
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Kulich has been placed in concussion protocol, per Rachel Lenzi of The Buffalo News on Monday.
Kulich missed Saturday's 4-3 overtime loss to Washington and won't join his teammates for the California portion of Buffalo's road trip. The Sabres visit San Jose on Tuesday, Anaheim on Thursday and Los Angeles on Saturday. It's unclear when Kulich will be available to return to the lineup. He has one goal, two assists, nine shots on net, three blocked shots and seven hits in eight appearances this season.
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Sabres' Jiri Kulich: Being evaluated
Rotowire
Kulich (face) is back in Buffalo for evaluation and won't play against Washington on Saturday, according to Paul Hamilton of WGR Sports Radio 550.
Kulich might join the team in California later in the road trip. He took a puck to the face during Friday's practice. Kulich has one goal, two assists, nine shots on net and seven hits in eight appearances this season.
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Sabres' Jiri Kulich: Exits Friday's practice early
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Kulich exited Friday's practice session early after taking a puck to the face, Paul Hamilton of WGR Sports Radio 550 reports.
Head coach Lindy Ruff didn't have an update on Kulich's status following Friday's practice, as Ruff simply said that Kulich was being evaluated by team doctors. It's not yet clear whether Kulich's injury will impact his status for Saturday's game against Washington, but Tyson Kozak is a candidate to enter the lineup if Kulich is unavailable.
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Sabres' Jiri Kulich: Notches helper in return
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Kulich logged an assist in Saturday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Canadiens.
Kulich has a goal, two assists, eight shots on net, seven hits and a plus-3 rating over seven appearances this season. He's battled an injury recently but is clear to play for now. Fantasy managers don't need to be glued to his status, as he hasn't produced enough to justify a roster spot in most standard formats.
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Sabres' Jiri Kulich: Available to play
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Kulich (undisclosed) will play against Montreal on Saturday, Paul Hamilton of WGR Sports Radio 550 reports.
Kulich sat out Thursday's 5-4 overtime win over Toronto because he wasn't feeling well. He returned to Buffalo for precautionary testing, but the results came back negative. Kulich has one goal, one assist, eight shots on net and seven hits in six appearances this season.
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Sabres' Jiri Kulich: First goal in 11 months
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Kulich scored a goal Saturday in a 4-3 win over Chicago.
Cue the tears -- it was Kulich's first goal in 11 months after the talented young player missed most of last season with a blood clot. He last scored Oct. 24, 2025; his last game was Nov. 1. "That was probably the main thing I was dreaming about the whole year (after) not playing," Kulich told reporters after the game. "After that one, it was a lot of emotions. So, yeah, that one is going to be special for sure." Kulich returned to hockey Thursday in the season opener. The competitive forward has a fantastic shot and 25-30 goal upside if his development curve resumes. The Sabres will ease him back into the game on the fourth line for now.
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Sabres' Jiri Kulich: Back at practice Saturday
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Kulich (undisclosed) participated in Saturday's practice.
Kulich is no longer listed on Buffalo's injury report, indicating he should be available for Thursday's season opener against Columbus. Head coach Lindy Ruff said Kulich "was doing pretty good" following Saturday's on-ice session.
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Sabres' Jiri Kulich: Precautionary exit Thursday
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Kulich (undisclosed) left Thursday's preseason game versus the Red Wings for precautionary reasons, Rachel Lenzi of The Buffalo News reports.
Kulich left about halfway through the contest. The 22-year-old forward was believed to have a chance at a middle-six role in place of Jason Zucker (abdomen). Kulich's own injury concerns casts a little doubt on that now, but the precautionary nature of his removal Thursday suggests he isn't dealing with a major issue. The Sabres play the Penguins in their last preseason game Saturday before opening the season in Columbus next Thursday.
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Sabres' Jiri Kulich: Could see increased work early in season
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Head coach Lindy Ruff indicated Wednesday that Kulich could step in for Jason Zucker (abdomen) early in the 2026-27 season, Matthew Fairburn of The Athletic reports.
Zucker is slated to miss the start of the 2026-27 campaign while recovering from sports hernia surgery, which could lead to increased early-season opportunities for Kulich. The 22-year-old Kulich made 12 regular-season appearances for Buffalo last year and recorded three goals, two assists, 12 blocked shots, nine hits and four PIM while averaging 16:22 of ice time.
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Sabres' Jiri Kulich: Set to miss significant time
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Head coach Lindy Ruff said Monday that Kulich (ear) is slated to miss significant time due to a blood clot issue, Brayton J. Wilson of WBEN reports.
Kulich landed on injured reserve last week due to fluid in his ears, and he'll miss extended time due to what Ruff called a "pretty serious" blood clot issue. However, Ruff hopes that Kulich will be able to return to game action before the end of the regular season. Prior to sustaining his injury, Kulich recorded three goals, two assists, 12 blocked shots, nine hits and four PIM while averaging 16:22 of ice time over 12 appearances.
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Sabres' Jiri Kulich: On injured reserve
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Kulich (ear) was placed on injured reserve Thursday, according to Rachel Lenzi of The Buffalo News.
Kulich's issue is related to fluid in his ears, the Sabres announced Wednesday. His placement on IR is presumably retroactive to Saturday, which is when Kulich was last in the lineup. He'll miss his second straight game when the Sabres face St. Louis on Thursday. When the 21-year-old is ready to return, he'll likely serve in a middle-six capacity.
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Sabres' Jiri Kulich: Deposits goal Monday
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Kulich scored a goal on two shots in Monday's 4-2 loss to the Canadiens.
Kulich has two goals over his last three games. After a brief stint on the fourth line, he's returned to a top-line role alongside Tage Thompson. Fantasy managers still need to see some consistency out of Kulich, but he's worth a speculative look as long as he's receiving prominent minutes. He's added 13 shots on net, seven blocked shots, three hits and a minus-6 rating over six appearances this season.
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Sabres' Jiri Kulich: Practices, set to return
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Kulich (undisclosed) participated in Tuesday's practice and should play in Wednesday's preseason game versus Pittsburgh, Heather Engel of NHL.com reports.
Kulich had been day-to-day since Thursday after tweaking a muscle. He produced 15 goals, 24 points and 134 shots on net across 62 regular-season appearances in 2024-25. Kulich will probably occupy a middle-six role with the Sabres this campaign.
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Sabres' Jiri Kulich: Unavailable Saturday
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Kulich (undisclosed) won't be in the lineup versus Detroit on Saturday, Heather Engel of NHL.com reports.
Kulich also didn't play in Thursday's preseason game against Detroit after tweaking a muscle. The 21-year-old had 15 goals and nine assists over 62 regular-season games in 2024-25. He remains day-to-day, leaving a return versus Pittsburgh on Wednesday as a possibility.
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Sabres' Jiri Kulich: Tweaks a muscle
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Per Heather Engel of NHL.com, Kulich will be out of the lineup for a day or two after tweaking a muscle, according to coach Lindy Ruff on Thursday.
Kulich had a good rookie season in 2024-25, tallying 15 goals and adding nine assists across 62 regular-season appearances. The 28th overall selection in the 2022 NHL Draft, Kulich is expected to start the season as the Sabres' third-line center.
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Sabres' Jiri Kulich: Heads to AHL
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Kulich was reassigned to AHL Rochester on Friday, per Heather Engel of NHL.com.
Kulich had 15 goals and 24 points across 62 appearances with Buffalo in his rookie campaign. The regular season is over, and the Sabres didn't make the playoffs, so the 21-year-old will gain additional experience in the minors.
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Sabres' Jiri Kulich: Deals assist in Thursday's loss
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Kulich notched an assist and two shots on goal in Thursday's 3-2 loss to the Blue Jackets.
Kulich has two helpers over his last three games but no goals over his last seven outings despite taking 13 shots on net in that span. The 20-year-old has remained in a top-six role amid his scoring struggles. For the season, he's at 23 points, 124 shots on net, 38 hits and 34 blocked shots across 58 appearances in his first full NHL campaign.
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Sabres' Jiri Kulich: Lights lamp twice in win
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Kulich scored two goals in Thursday's 7-3 win over the Penguins.
Both goals came in the second period, but they came against different goalies as Kulich helped chase Tristan Jarry from the game before greeting Alex Nedeljkovic with a tally midway through the frame. Kulich is up to 14 goals and 21 points over 51 appearances in his first full NHL campaign, and the 20-year-old is beginning to look like a bit of a steal as the No. 28 overall selection in 2022.
