Sabres’ Jiri Kulich Faces Extended Absence Due to Blood Clot
Buffalo Sabres forward Jiri Kulich will be sidelined for an extended period due to a blood clot, as announced by head coach Lindy Ruff on Monday. Ruff described the situation as “pretty serious,” but did not provide further details. This development adds to a growing list of injuries and absences that have troubled the Sabres throughout the season.
The Sabres have been particularly affected by injuries among their key players. Zach Benson, a promising young forward, has had a tumultuous season. He was hospitalized on October 8 after sustaining a puck injury to his face during practice. After returning to play for eight games and scoring eight points, he was placed on injured reserve due to a lower-body injury on October 31. Ruff stated that a decision regarding Benson’s participation in the team’s upcoming three-game road trip is still pending. “We’re going to discuss whether it’s better for him to come or stay back and keep undergoing treatment,” Ruff explained.
In addition to Kulich and Benson, the Sabres are also missing forward Jason Zucker, who has been out since November 1 due to a “viral, flu-like” illness. Ruff confirmed that Zucker will not join the team on its road trip, highlighting that he “hasn’t been able to shake it” despite undergoing numerous tests.
The situation has been further complicated by the personal leave of team captain Rasmus Dahlin, who returned to his native Sweden following a serious medical event involving his fiancée, Carolina Matovac. Matovac experienced major heart failure during a vacation in France this summer, necessitating a heart transplant. There is currently no timetable for Dahlin’s return.
The Sabres are also contending with the absence of their top-line center, Josh Norris, who has been out since October 9 with an upper-body injury incurred during the season opener. Furthermore, free agent acquisition Justin Danforth has been sidelined with a lower-body injury sustained while blocking a shot on October 15.
With these significant absences, the Sabres have had to rely on call-ups from the Rochester Americans to maintain competitiveness in the challenging Eastern Conference. Ruff has inserted skilled forwards Isak Rosén and Noah Östlund into scoring roles, with varying degrees of success. Each has managed to contribute a few points in their recent outings, while forward Josh Dunne has added a goal across nine games, providing depth on the fourth line.
Despite achieving points in nine of their last twelve games, the Sabres find themselves at the bottom of the Atlantic Division, holding a record of 5-6-4. The team will embark on a challenging road trip to Utah, Colorado, and Detroit this week before returning home for a three-game homestand. The upcoming matches will test the resilience and adaptability of the Sabres as they strive to turn their season around amidst a wave of injuries.
