Buffalo Sabres forward Jiri Kulich is set to miss a "significant amount of time" due to a blood clot. Head Coach Lindy Ruff announced the news on Monday, noting the issue is "pretty serious".
Kulich, 21, has already missed the Sabres' last three games, with his last appearance dating back to November 1 against the Washington Capitals. Before being sidelined, the Czech native had been centering Buffalo's top line. In 12 games this season, Kulich has recorded three goals and two assists, averaging over 16 minutes of ice time per night. During the 2024-25 season, Kulich posted 15 goals and 24 points in 62 games with Buffalo. Kulich was drafted by the Sabres in the first round (28th overall) in 2022 and made his NHL debut on November 25, 2023.
Coach Ruff stated he anticipates Kulich will return this season, but that will depend on his progress over the next few weeks. "Jiri is going to miss significant time, and it's related to a blood clot that was found," Ruff said. "I'm not going to go into any further details, but it's pretty serious". When asked about Kulich's potential return before the end of the 2025-26 season, Ruff responded optimistically, but with caution, stating that it depends on how things progress in the next three to four weeks.
Kulich's absence further compounds the Sabres' woes, as they are already dealing with a series of injuries and absences. Forwards Zach Benson, Justin Danforth, Josh Norris and Jason Zucker are currently out. Additionally, captain Rasmus Dahlin is on leave in Sweden to support his fiancée's recovery from a heart transplant. Ruff mentioned that Benson is showing improvement but is not yet ready to return, and Zucker will be absent from the upcoming three-game road trip due to a viral illness.
The Sabres' have struggled to find consistency amidst the mounting injuries and constant lineup changes. The team is currently near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. The Sabres have lost six of their last seven games. The Sabres' hopes of ending their 14-year playoff drought have been further challenged by the numerous injuries impacting the roster.
