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#39 Jan Mursak
Pos: Left Wing
D.O.B.: 01/20/88
From: Maribor, Slovenia
Height: 5' 11"
Weight: 173
Shoots: Right
Drafted: 6th Rnd 2006 draft by Detroit (NHL)
Acquired: Signed to ATO by Grand Rapids (AHL) 4/14/07
Personal:
Plus: Great speed and acceleration - tremendous skater... Effective forechecker... Good hockey sense... Great stickhandler... highly skilled... Good work ethic and maturity...
Minus: Very small for a pro...
Organizational Comments: "Jan was a very pleasant surprise for us. He came over and didn't miss a beat. Language wasn't an issue, lifestyle wasn't an issue and hockey wasn't an issue. He was one of the leading rookie scorers in the OHL. He played well all year. He was here at our development camp and is staying another for another month on his own. Jan is committed to the game and he has good skills. He went to Grand Rapids last spring, a big step, and played well, didn't look out of place at all. We are very happy with his development." Wings Asst. GM Jim Nill
What GRC says: 2012-13: Mursak was assigned to the Griffins after missing most of the last two seasons to injury. He did not sulk at the demotion and instead became a force at both ends of the ice, showcasing the talent that got him to the NHL in the first place. He energized the team with his speed and was a great fit with Hoggan and Glendening. It was announced he had signed a contract next year in the KHL and he wanted to go out with a championship. He helped make that happen by scoring 11 goals and 17 points with a team high +12 defensive rating.
2009-10: The surprise of the first half, Mursak kept up his strong play even though his scoring dropped off. Jan is a fearless forechecker with blazing speed and was quite adept at breaking up plays and creating odd man rushes. His work ethic and all-around game made him an asset to the club even when he wasn't scoring as much.
2008-09: Mursak recreated himself in the second half to become a hustling, energy winger who was not afraid to hit, despite his small stature. After adapting his game, he even had some modest offensive success, scoring 6 points in 20 games and firing 53 shots on goal in that span. His strong play down the stretch even helped him get some playing time in the playoffs. Mursak is another young player that should be ready to have a better start next season after working through a difficult freshman year.
2007-08: Mursak had an up and down year, beginning with a slow start in Saginaw, and finishing with a red hot Memorial Cup run with Belleville. Along the way, he wasn't able to duplicate his rookies seasons' high water marks, but enters the professional ranks fresh off a sensational stretch of 24 points in 21 playoff games. Mursak will have an adjustment period in the AHL, but all bets are on him making the jump and getting on track early just like he did last season, his first in North America.
2006-07: While the scoresheet won't necessarily back it up, Mursak was one of the most impressive forwards on the team during the postseason. After adjusting to the pace during the first game, he was dangerous with the puck for the rest of the series. Still a year away from playing in the AHL, Jan showed some jaw-dropping moves, and the talent to compete at this level.
Spring 2007: Mursak is a highly skilled forward who was the 11th ranked European in the 2006 draft. Jan probably won't see much if any ice time in GR this season, but will benefit from practicing with the team during the playoffs. The speedy young winger is probably a candidate to play in the AHL in 2008-09.
Role: Playmaking Forward
Projection: NHL Second Liner

Statistics:

Transactions
4/8/07 Signed 3 year contract with Detroit Red Wings (NHL)
4/14/07 Signed ATO with Grand Rapids (AHL)
10/5/08 Assigned by Detroit (NHL)
9/6/09 Recalled for Training Camp by Detroit (NHL)
9/27/09 Assigned by Detroit (NHL)
4/12/09 Assigned to Slovenian National Team