Red Wings lose free agent to KHL

One decision has been made easy for the Detroit Red Wings as the opening of the free-agent market is less than a month away. 

Defenseman Libor Sulak has signed with a Russian team rather than spend another season in the AHL with the Grand Rapids Griffins.

According to Ansar Khan of MLive.com, the restricted free-agent defenseman who took part in six games with the Wings last season, inked a one-year deal with Severstal Cherepovets of the KHL.

The blue liner probably took a close look at the Red Wings’ blue line and realized he had little chance to get a spot on the roster next season. Mike Green, Danny DeKeyser, Jonathan Ericsson, Trevor Daley and Filip Hronek are certain to be on the roster, while Oliwer Kaski, Madison Bowey and Dennis Cholowski will be among those competing for spots. And on top of that, veteran Niklas Kronwall has yet to decide if he’ll be back or retire. 

Sulak was signed by Detroit as an undrafted free agent in 2017. The Red Wings could retain his NHL rights if they make him a qualifying offer by June 30.

In six games with the Wings, Sulak had no points and a minus-4 rating before being reassigned to the Griffins, where he played 61 games, posting five goals and nine assists. He added two assists in four playoff games.