“That’s when he’s gonna step up, in those moments, and it’s great to have him here,” said forward Isak Rosen, who played eight games with Buffalo this season.
Prior to the playoffs, Kulich’s only 2024-25 AHL action was a four-game stint in November. Compared to then, and compared to his 51-goal, 91-point output between the previous two campaigns, the Amerks now see a more complete, mature player thanks to his Sabres experience.
“Just the speed, and also he plays with more intensity all over the ice,” Rosen said. “He wins more battles and (is) just relentless on the forecheck. And also in the D-zone, good at ending plays – that’s been one thing he’s doing really good up there, and you can see it here now as well.”
Kulich echoed those details when asked about his growth this season, and in addition to those away-from-the-puck skills, he was tied for eighth among NHL rookies with 15 goals.
Amerks assistant coach Vinny Prospal has worked closely with his fellow countryman Kulich for years. These playoffs, Prospal believes, are a continuation of the 2022 first-round pick’s development as an NHL center – not a detour from it.
