A young athlete in his prime suddenly found himself struggling with his health and performance, feeling disconnected from his usual energy both on and off the ice. His condition worsened to a critical point in early November, raising concerns about an underlying issue beyond typical fatigue or injury. The abrupt decline in his physical and mental state has sparked questions about what may have triggered such a sharp downturn. Details of his diagnosis and recovery remain unclear as the situation unfolds.

He was 21, in peak physical shape and early in his second NHL season, but Kulich just felt off – on the ice, at the grocery store and everywhere in between. Things reached a breaking point on Nov. 1, ...