By the Numbers Prospects: Libor Sulak

By the Numbers will highlight the on-ice accomplishments in the 2017-18 season for the Detroit Red Wings' prospects. Twice a week during the offseason, By the Numbers will profile a different player in the system, focusing on his statistical highs. This week we focus on defenseman Libor Sulak.
Heading into training camp this September in Traverse City, the Red Wings have made it abundantly clear - jobs are available on the Detroit roster.

Unlike previous seasons, Detroit coach Jeff Blashill isn't hesitant to commit to a youngster over a veteran, especially if the competition is a toss-up when the Wings break camp in early October.
One name Wings fans should pay close attention to during the preseason is 24-year-old Czech defenseman Libor Sulak, who has emerged as a dark horse candidate to be patrolling the Wings' blueline once the regular season gets underway on October 4 at Little Caesars Arena against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Signed as a free agent to a two-year entry-level contract on May 24, 2017, the 6-foot-2, 207-pound left-shooting defenseman has impressed Detroit's hierarchy with his intelligence, his solid two-way play, his mobility and his knack for creating offensively.
Sulak spent last season playing in the Finnish Elite League (Liiga) for the Lahti Pelicans, where he became one of the team's top defensemen. He also represented the Czech Republic in the 2018 IIHF World Championship in Denmark last May.
There are still many questions as to whether Sulak's game will translate to the smaller ice surface and the NHL style of play, but his rapid development has Red Wings officials eager to see what he does with this golden opportunity.
42 - Number of games he played for the Pelicans during their 60-game regular season schedule.
9 -His goal total for the season, which ranked second among defensemen on the team. Only Mikko Sousa had more with 12 in 50 games.
23 -Sulak's 23 assists was the most by a Pelican defenseman and second best on his team. Forward Jesse Saarinen had 25 helpers.
32 -He led all Pelican defensemen in scoring with 32 points, which was also third overall on the Pelicans. Forwards Iikka Kangasniemi and Saarinen had 36 points apiece. Sulak's 32 points was eighth among defensemen in the league.
66 -In his 42 games played, Sulak accumulated 66 penalty minutes, which was second highest on the Pelicans. Forward Taavi Vartiainen had 69 penalty minutes.
+5 -Along with Saarinen, their plus-5 was tops on the team.
307 -Known for having a terrific shot, Sulak fired 307 shots on goal, which led Liiga.
3 -The Pelicans were eliminated in the first round of the Liiga playoffs. Sulak played in all three playoff games, where he failed to register a point, was minus-2 and had four penalty minutes.
2 -At the conclusion of the Pelicans season, Sulak played in two games for the Grand Rapids Griffins. He didn't score a goal, but he did dish out two assists, was plus-2 and registered one shot.
8 -Sulak appeared in all eight games for the Czech Republic in the 2018 IIHF World Championship in Denmark. He tallied one goal, two assists, was plus-2 and had eight penalty minutes. His three total points put him in a four-way tie in scoring among Team Czech Republic defensemen. One of the players Sulak tied in defensemen scoring was fellow Red Wings prospect Filip Hronek. In his eight games, Hronek also had a goal and two assists, was minus-1 and was issued two penalty minutes.
Quotable:"Libor came to us at the end of last year and played a couple of games for us against San Antonio in Texas. It was a small sample size, but you could see he has a tremendous shot, it's a really good shot and he had a tremendous showing at the World Championships last spring. So the Red Wings are very excited about him and what he brings to the table, very good mobility. There will be an acclimation period from a big Olympic sheet to a smaller sheet. He'll have to make quicker decisions, but he has good size to him, a big presence and a confidence, but a bit of an enigma as to who he is. He is excited to establish himself as to who he is as a player and tell the Red Wings, 'This is who I am, this is the type of player I am.' The Red Wings have some idea about him, but this may change with the smaller sheet, with playing in North America. Can he play quick? Can he close quickly? Can he play physical? Can he still get that shot off? Can he produce offensively? Those are things he's going to have to really establish himself the first couple weeks in the season to get his legs under him and dictate who he is and where he wants to go." - Ben Simon, Grand Rapids Griffins head coach