Libor Šulák

Libor Šulák (born on March 4, 1994 in Pelhřimov) is a Czech professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing with the Kärpät of the Liiga.

Club career
Šulák began his junior career with the HC Havlíčkův Brod organisation. During the 2011-12 season played Šulák with the Tatranskí Vlci of the MHL. In 2012, Šulák moved to the Piráti Chomutov organisation and made his senior debut in the 2012-13 season while he played 40 regular season games and 3 play-off games with the Piráti Chomutov under-20 team and 2 play-off games on loan with the SK Kadaň of the 1. Liga.

He continued with the Piráti Chomutov organisation in the next season while he played 19 regular season games and 11 play-off games with the Piráti Chomutov under-20 team, 32 regular season games and 1 relegation games with the Piráti Chomutov of the Tipsport Extraliga and 1 game on loan with the SK Kadaň of the 1. Liga.

During the 2014-15 season played Šulák 12 games with the Piráti Chomutov under-20 team, 29 regular season games, 10 play-off games and 12 qualification for the Tipsport Extraliga games with the Piráti Chomutov of the 1. Liga and 9 games on loan with the SK Kadaň of the 1. Liga. He helped the Piráti Chomutov become the 1. Liga champion and helped them to get the promotion back to the Tipsport Extraliga while he had the best plus/minus in the whole 1. Liga play-offs (+11).

During the 2015-16 season playing with the Orli Znojmo of the EBEL, Šulák recorded six goals and 12 assists in 52 regular season games and 2 goals and 4 assists in 18 play-off games, and was named the league's rookie of the year. In the following 2016-17 season with the Orli Znojmo of the EBEL, Šulák placed fourth on the team with 10 goals and 18 assists, and a team-best +19 rating in 54 regular season games. He scored another 3 goals in 4 play-off games and had there +2 rating.

After two productive years with Znojmo, Šulák was initially signed to a two-year contract with Finnish club, the Pelicans of the Liiga on April 13, 2017. However, on May 24, 2017, Šulák was mutually released from his contract using an NHL out-clause in signing to a two-year, entry-level contract with the Detroit Red Wings organisation.

Šulák competed in the ensuing Red Wings training camp and pre-season in preparation for the 2017-18 season. On October 2, 2017, Šulák was re-assigned on loan to Finland by the Red Wings, joining his previously arranged club, the Pelicans. During the 2017-18 season, he recorded nine goals and 23 assists, and led all defensemen in scoring with a career-high 32 points in 42 regular season games. He went scoreless in the 3 games in the play-offs. After the completion of the Liiga season, Šulák was reassigned to the Red Wings' AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins on March 23, 2018. He finished there the season with 2 games played.

Šulák made his NHL debut with the Detroit Red Wings to open the 2018-19 season on October 4, 2018. He was scoreless in the Red Wings' first 6 games of the season before he was re-assigned to the Griffins of the AHL on October 16, 2019. Šulák remained in the AHL for the remainder of the season, posting 5 goals and 14 points in 61 regular season games. He added another 2 assists in 4 play-off games.

As an impending restricted free agent to the Red Wings, Šulák opted to return to Europe and continue his career in the KHL, securing a contract with Russian club, theSeverstal Cherepovets, on June 4, 2019. In the 2019-20 season, Šulák struggled to adapt with the Severstal contributing just 2 points in 19 games from the blueline. On November 24, 2019, Šulák was released from his contract and signed for the remainder of the season in returning to the Finnish Liiga with the KooKoo. He finished there the season with 16 points scored in 31 games and was named the Liiga Player of the Month in December 2019.

On July 3, 2020, Šulák signed a one-year contract with the Kärpät of the Liiga.

International career
Šulák represented the Czech Republic at the 2012 World U18 Championship where he recorded three assists in six games. Šulák also represented the Czech Republic at the 2014 World Junior Championship where he recorded zero points in five games.

Later, Šulák played with the Czech National Team at the 2017 World Championship where he recorded one assist in two games and at the 2018 World Championship recording 3 points in 8 games.