Libor Hajek: This season’s stealth rookie

With all of the fuss about Kaapo Kakko and Adam Fox, there’s been little talk about one of the of the New York Rangers’ most promising rookies, Libor Hajek.

If there is one rookie who has a head start on winning a starting job with the New York Rangers this fall, it is defenseman Libor Hajek.  In a brief audition with the Blueshirts last season, he displayed poise and ability and indications that he could be a rock on defense for years to come.

It’s important to remember that Libor Hajek is still a rookie.  He has only played five games in the NHL, scoring his first NHL goal in his last game, the game he separated his shoulder in an injury that ended his season.  What he showed in those five games over nine days was enough to impress the front office, coaches and fans alike.

He made his debut on March 1, playing 17:35 in a 4-2 loss to Montreal.

He saw only 12 minutes of  ice time in his next game, but Coach David Quinn began to lean on him heavily the next two games.  He played 17:02 in a loss to Dallas, but had a season high 21:44 in a shootout loss to Detroit.

On March 9, the 21-year old scored his first goal in a 4-2 win over the New Jersey Devils, but was checked hard into the boards by Blake Coleman in the third period.  He made it to the bench and left for the locker room, never to return.

After he was injured, the Rangers’ coach spoke to the New York Post about his poised NHL performance:

“So I think he put a lot of pressure on himself because of the trade and I think once he got settled in and realized he didn’t have to do that, he turned a corner. His physical play, how quick he thought, not being rattled by the situation stepping into the National Hockey League, not looking fazed and just the way he defended. There are a lot of good things in his game.” – David Quinn

There has been no news about Hajek’s recovery, but at the time of the injury, recovery time was estimated to be about four weeks.  He should be ready to go in training camp and there is a chance he may be on the team roster at the NHL Prospects Tournament in Traverse City.

How he got here

Libor Hajek was an important piece of the trade that sent Ryan McDonagh to the Tampa Bay LIghtning in February, 2018.   The belief is that Jeff Gorton insisted that he be part of the deal and when that was met with resistance by Tampa G.M. Steve Yzerman, it resulted in J.T. Miller becoming part of the deal.

Hajek was a high second round pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.  Yzerman traded up to get the Czech 37th overall in the second round.  Ironically, the player he traded was Tony DeAngelo, who was swapped  to Arizona to get the pick.

In 2017-18, Hajek split his last season in junior hockey between the Saskatoon Blades and the Regina Pats.  He scored 12 goals and had 39 points in 58 games that campaign, his second after being drafted.

One reason the Rangers were so hot on Hajek was his performance at the 2018 World Junior Championships.  He had one goal and seven assists in seven games for the Czech Republic.  Those eight points tied Cale Makar of Canada  for most by a defenseman in the tournament.    Makar was the fourth overall pick in the 2017 draft and impressed in his debut with the Avalanche in the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season.

Last season

Although five games is a small sample size, Hajek did lead all Ranger rookies in average time on the ice and shifts per game. He hardly saw any ice time on the power play, but was used extensive on the penalty kill.

He spent the most time paired with Brendan Smith and also saw a lot of time skating with Kevin Shattenkirk.  Despite being teamed with two defensemen not known for their defensive play Hajek finished with strong possession statistics. Again, it was only five games, but his Corsi For percentage was a sparkling 54.2% at even strength.  His possession stats were much better than Ryan Lindgren‘s who also saw action in five games, like Hajek.

As good as his NHL statistics were, his AHL statistics were bad.  In 58 games for the Wolf Pack he had only five assists.  Even more disturbing was that he finished minus 26.  Although his numbers placed him near the bottom of all Hartford defensemen, he still was called up before any other Wolf Pack blueliners.

The difference between his play with the Wolf Pack and the Rangers was dramatic.  Skeptics point to his tenure with Hartford and question his potential as an NHL regular.  Supporters claim that he just responded to playing at a higher level, as Ryan McDonagh did a decade ago.

There is no doubt it raises the question of how much his progress was hampered by a chaotic defensive structure in Hartford, a result of the Wolf Pack coaching situation, an acknowledged trouble spot.