Last summer, defenseman Libor Hajek didn’t fare too well in unrestricted free agency. After being non-tendered by the Rangers, he wasn’t able to secure an NHL contract, eventually settling for an AHL agreement in Pittsburgh before heading back overseas a couple of months later. However, Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek reports that there is now some buzz around the blueliner about potentially returning to the NHL next season.
The 26-year-old was originally drafted in the second round by Tampa Bay in 2016, going 37th overall. However, he never played for them and was moved to the Rangers less than two years later as part of the return for Ryan McDonagh and J.T. Miller. Hajek spent parts of five seasons in New York, playing in 110 games but had predominantly been a healthy scratch towards the end of his time there which helped result in his eventual release.
This season, he played in 11 games with AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton before being granted his release to go play at home with Pardubice in his native Czechia. Hajek fared well in the Extraliga, collecting four goals and five assists in 20 regular season games while adding a trio of helpers in 16 postseason contests. He’s expected to play for the Czechs at the upcoming World Championship which could help his value if he does indeed look to return to North America.
Considering his lack of interest as recently as the start of this season, Hajek probably won’t be in a position to command much more than the minimum salary of $775K on his next deal. But if he’s even able to secure a two-way agreement, it would be a big improvement compared how to things went for him last summer while giving him at least a chance of returning to the NHL.