For: JustHockey Magazine  Cle -2004-4

Baron’s Stay-at-home Defenseman
By Rich Herles 

Cleveland, OH.  --    For the past four season’s the Shark’s AHL affiliates have had the great fortune of having a player that not only knows what role is expected of him, but has filled that role to the highest possible degree.  Robert Mulick has been a true stay-at-home defenseman.

The Sharks didn’t draft the captain of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds for his scoring prowess.  In 241 games in the OHL, the young defenseman scored a total of 39 points (three goals and 36 assists).

Throughout his professional career, Mulick has been described as a tough, Blue Collar defenseman, who will finish bruising checks and give you smart heads up play at both ends of the ice.  The Toronto native may have described it best.  “What I bring to a team is something that I think that every team needs.  A defensive, stay at home guy that’s going to get the last few minutes of an important shift where you need some strong defense.  Every team needs a player like that.”
Last season ended rather abruptly for the young defenseman, as he sustained an injury that had him sidelined for 56 games.  Upon his return at the start of this season, his streak of 208 games without scoring a goal was rapidly approaching the AHL high water mark.  Even with that in mind, Coach Roy Sommer has been pleased with the rugged “D” that Mulick has turned in shift after shift.  “The thing is that he can shoot the puck.  He’s had chances, but has had some tough luck.  He’s a defensive defenseman and that is what he concentrates on and where he gives us the best part of his game.” Going almost unnoticed, Mulick bested the 211 goalless games mark.  Robert jokingly explained,  “It goes along with the territory, I get my chops busted once in a while by the guys (in the locker room), but it really doesn’t
bother me as long as I go out there and do what the coach expects from me that’s all that matters.”