About a week ago, I spotted a translated interview that Red Wings 2026 draft pick Michal Orsulak gave to Denik Sport, and, this evening, iDnes.cz’s Petr Panek also posted an interview with the Prince Albert Raiders goaltender.
Orsulak spoke with Panek about being drafted by the Red Wings, meeting now-former GM Steve Yzerman, and Orsulak discusses his future plans after having helmed Prince Albert to the WHL Final this past spring.
What follows is roughly translated from Czech:
Before last season, Orsulak headed from Energie Karlovy Vary to the Canadian WHL, where he collected valuable experience with overseas hockey playing for the Prince Albert Raiders’ jersey. At the turn of the year, Orsulak helped the Czech World Junior team win Silver at the Under-20 championship. A few weeks ago, the talented goalie took the next step of his career when he was picked by the Detroit Red Wings in the 3rd round of the draft.
“I think that silver at the World Juniors was very important for the draft. Representatives of the teams may have noticed that I can hold teams at key moments,” said the eighteen-year-old native of Tremosa, near Plsen.
Did you have any signals before the draft that it could turn out that the Red Wings would be the team that selected you?
“Maybe I did. I had an interview with their representatives at the combine in Buffalo, and then I saw a goaltending coach at the Miami camp organized by my agent. That’s where they told me that they were interested in me, and that we’d see if it worked out. In the end, it turned out that way, for which I’m glad, of course.”
You didn’t participate in the draft itself, but you flew to Detroit a short time later. What were your first impressions?
“Definitely positive. Right after the draft, I received a few messages from the scouts that I spoke with before. They wrote to me that they were glad that it worked out, and that I would be part of the organization. When I arrived in Detroit, I was really excited about the city. On the first day off, we went to see baseball, which was a great experience, and then the work on the cold field [ice] started.”
How did general manager Steve Yzerman, one of the Red Wings’ greatest legends, impress you?
“It was something amazing. I met him already in Buffalo and we talked most of the time. He made a big impression on me. I was excited when he told me that they were interested in me. It really pleases you to hear from such a legend. But I would like to attract even more people in Detroit so that I can make my mark in their organization someday.”
When do you think that you’ll be able to make it to the NHL?
“Today, the trend is that goalies leave for university and a few sign a contract straight into the NHL. I think it can take 4 to 5 years to get there. It’s gradual work and hard work. There will be encouraging performances, and certainly some worse moments. I have to be ready for both. But I’m going to do everything I can to catch myself in the NHL one day.”
So you’re still going to continue with Prince Albert next season?
“Yes, I’m staying with the team and then we’ll see what happens afterward. I don’t rule out a trip through university, but first I have to finish high school to get there to begin with.”
What has the year spent overseas taught you?
“I guess that I can say straight up that if I’d stayed with Karlovy Vary, I would be second [there]. So I’m glad that I left for the WHL. The coaches and general manager helped me terribly there, gave me the confidence and moved me a lot. It changed me as a person. I began to trust myself much more. I had to prove that I wanted to be the number one on the team and that I could do it. That was a success, we made it to the final, where, unfortunately, we lost. Next season I would like to repeat something similar and go as far as possible again.”
How important were your hockey beginnings in Tremosa?
“I certainly owe it to the coaches of Andrasovsky or Pousek. They gave me a chance when I was young, even though I was a youngster. THey even brought me up to older age groups, which helped me a lot. I would like to thank them for that.”
You helped earn silver for the Czech under-20 team at the World Junior Championship. You stay in that age category, so your goal is to re-start the championship and be the number one goaltender?
“I’d just point out that I didn’t get the team to silver, but was just a part of it. We all did it together. I don’t get too attached to the next World Junior Championship, although of course it would be beautiful. But I have to give great performances for my team first, and only then can I think about representing [my country]. If the nomination comes, I will be very happy about it and accept any role I receive on the team.”
