Jiri Kulich to Miss Significant Time as Sabres’ Injury Woes Mount

UPDATE: Buffalo Sabres forward Jiri Kulich will miss a significant amount of time due to a blood clot, as confirmed by head coach Lindy Ruff on Monday. This alarming news adds to a growing list of injuries that continue to plague the team as they struggle to remain competitive in the Eastern Conference.

Coach Ruff described Kulich’s condition as “pretty serious,” but did not provide further details. This latest setback is a major blow for the Sabres, who are already grappling with multiple absences.

In addition, forward Zach Benson has faced his own struggles this season. Hospitalized on October 8 after taking a puck to the face during practice, he returned for eight games, tallying eight points. However, he was placed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury on October 31. Ruff stated that it remains uncertain if Benson will join the team on their upcoming three-game road trip.

Meanwhile, forward Jason Zucker has been sidelined since November 1 with a “viral, flu-like” illness. He will not accompany the team on their road trip. “He hasn’t been able to shake it,” Ruff said, noting that Zucker has undergone numerous tests without improvement.

The challenges extend further, as team captain Rasmus Dahlin took a leave of absence last week to address a personal issue. Dahlin is currently in Sweden following a serious health crisis involving his fiancée, who requires a heart transplant after experiencing major heart failure during their vacation in France.

Adding to the list of absentees is top-line center Josh Norris, who has been out since October 9 due to an upper-body injury. Free agent acquisition Justin Danforth is also battling a lower-body injury sustained on October 15.

As the Sabres navigate these injuries, they have turned to call-ups from the Rochester Americans for support. Skilled forwards Isak Rosén and Noah Östlund have been inserted into scoring roles, achieving moderate success, while forward Josh Dunne has contributed a goal in nine games during his time on the fourth line.

Despite managing to earn points in nine of their last twelve games, the Sabres find themselves in last place in the Atlantic Division with a record of 5-6-4. They are set to travel to Utah, Colorado, and Detroit this week for crucial matchups before returning for a three-game homestand.

The mounting injuries have left fans and analysts questioning the Sabres’ ability to turn their season around. As the team grapples with these challenges, all eyes will be on how they adapt and respond in the coming days.