Red Wings call up rookie Libor Sulak to bolster battered defense

Detroit — The Red Wings on Wednesday recalled defenseman Libor Sulak from their minor-league affiliate in Grand Rapids.

Sulak, 25, made the Red Wings out of training camp, making his NHL debut Oct. 4 against Columbus. Sulak played six games with the Wings, averaging just under 20 minutes per game (19:23).

In 54 games with the Griffins this season, Sulak (6-foot-2, 207 pounds) has 12 points (four goals, eight assists) with 80 shots on net and 32 penalty minutes.

Sulak was signed in May 2017 as an undrafted free agent from the Czech Republic.

The Red Wings have Trevor Daley (back) and Jonathan Ericsson (lower body) out on a day-to-day basis, while Mike Green (virus) is out for the rest of the season.

Luke Witkowski and recently recalled Brian Lashoff have filled in for Daley and Ericsson the last two games, while Madison Bowey (acquired for Nick Jensen at the trade deadline), essentially replaced Green.

The Red Wings continue a five-game road trip Thursday in St. Louis, after defeating the New York Rangers, 3-2, on Tuesday.

Ice chips

Forward Taro Hirose (Michigan State), who earned his first NHL point Tuesday assisting on Frans Nielsen’s goal, was named a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award — the equivalent of college hockey’s Heisman Trophy.

Hirose on Tuesday was named Big Ten Player of the Year.

… With Jacob de la Rose not playing, Hirose and fellow college free-agent Ryan Kuffner are expected to be in the lineup against the Blues.

…Goaltender Jonathan Bernier is expected to start against the Blues.

Red Wings at Blues

Faceoff: 8 p.m. Thursday, Enterprise Center, St. Louis.

TV/radio: Fox Sports Detroit/97.1 FM

Outlook: The Blues (38-27-8) are batting for playoff positioning, two points ahead (84-82) of red-hot Dallas..The Blues are only 4-4-2 over their last 10 games. … C Ryan O’Reilly has been a big addition, leading the Blues with 43 assists and 69 points

ted.kulfan@detroitnews.com

Twitter: @tkulfan