The battered Buffalo Sabres expect center Jiri Kulich to miss considerable time as he deals with a blood clot issue.

The issue is “pretty serious,” head coach Lindy Ruff said Monday, but Kulich is expected to return at some point this season.

The 21-year-old Kulich was a first-round draft pick in 2022. His 29 points (18 goals, 11 assists) in 75 career games with the Sabres include three goals and two assists in 12 games this season.

Buffalo is now missing four key forwards and top defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, who returned home to Sweden indefinitely to deal with a family health matter.

Other Sabres on injured reserve include forwards Jason Zucker, who is fighting a severe viral illness; Zach Benson, who has missed four games with a lower-body injury; and Josh Norris, who is shelved with an upper-body injury sustained in the season opener.

The Sabres have lost three straight games and possessed the Eastern Conference’s worst record (5-6-4, 14 points) and goal differential (minus-8) heading into play Monday.

Buffalo has upcoming road games with the Utah Mammoth on Wednesday, the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday and the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday.

–Field Level Media