TAMPA, Fla. – Jan Mursak showed enough skill and grit during his recent six-week stint with the Detroit Red Wings for the club to determine he is a part of its future.

The Red Wings on Thursday signed Mursak to a two-year contract.

“Based upon his progress and development the last year or two -- and then we liked what we saw (this season) -- he's a young guy, provides energy, can skate, he's a puck hound,'' Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said. “We think as he gets more confident he'll be able to contribute a little bit offensively. We feels he's going to be on the team next year."

Mursak, 23, made a good impression during a 17-game stint in Detroit as injury replacement. He skated fast and hard, went to the net and battled in the high-traffic areas. He he had one goal, no assists and a minus-3 rating.

He was reassigned to the Grand Rapids Griffins earlier this week, after missing a week with bruised toes.

Mursak has 11 goals and 25 points in 36 games with the Griffins. He is out of minor-league options next season, so he must earn a spot on the NHL roster.

The Red Wings selected Mursak in the sixth round of the 2006 entry draft (182nd overall). He is one of only two Slovenian-born players in the NHL (Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar is the other).