Hajek signed a one-year, minor-league contract with AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Tuesday.
Hajek had been with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's NHL affiliate Pittsburgh during training camp but was unable to secure a contract. Instead, the 25-year-old blueliner will spend the year in the minors with the Baby Pens. Unless he signs a two-way contract later in the campaign, Hajek won't be eligible to be recalled to Pittsburgh.
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Penguins' Libor Hajek: Attending Pittsburgh camp
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Hajek signed a professional tryout agreement with the Penguins on Tuesday, per CapFriendly.
Hajek went unqualified by the Rangers in June, ending his five-year stint with the team. He has never appeared in more than 44 games or earned more than five points in a season. At 25 years old, he may still be able to find his way to a full-time NHL role. Hajek's PTO will allow him to showcase his game during the Penguins' training camp, though it's unclear if he'll earn a full contract from them or any other team.
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Libor Hajek: Not receiving qualifying offer
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Hajek won't get a qualifying offer from the Rangers, which will make him an unrestricted free agent Saturday, per Arthur Staple of The Athletic.
Hajek had two goals and six points in 24 AHL contests with Hartford in 2022-23. At the NHL level, the 25-year-old defenseman has accumulated four goals and 12 points in 110 career games.
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Rangers' Libor Hajek: Dropped to AHL
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Hajek was assigned to AHL Hartford on Tuesday.
Hajek was an extra defender for the Rangers in the postseason. New York's elimination in Game 7 on Monday by New Jersey frees him up to see playing time in the Calder Cup Playoffs with the Wolf Pack. The 25-year-old blueliner chipped in six points and 31 PIM in 24 AHL contests during the 2022-23 campaign.
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Rangers' Libor Hajek: Joins big club
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Hajek was promoted from AHL Hartford on Friday.
Hajek scored six points in 24 games with AHL Hartford. He'll fill a depth role with the Rangers this postseason.
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Rangers' Libor Hajek: Placed on waivers
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Hajek was waived by the Rangers on Thursday, per TSN's Chris Johnston.
Hajek last drew into the lineup for New York on Dec. 12. He has a goal in 16 games this season while averaging 13:16 of ice time. If Hajek clears waivers, the 25-year-old will likely be reassigned to AHL Hartford so he can get some work in.
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Rangers' Libor Hajek: No action since Dec. 12
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Hajek hasn't dressed for a game since Dec. 12.
The Rangers brought up Ben Harpur from the AHL after that date, and Harpur has skated in all 10 of New York's games since then at Hajek's expense. Hajek has just one point in 16 games this season, and it would likely take an injury to get the underwhelming blueliner back in the lineup.
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Rangers' Libor Hajek: Remains stuck on one point
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Hajek totaled one shot, two blocked shots, two PIM and a plus-1 rating across 12:24 TOI in Monday's 4-3 overtime win over the Devils.
Hajek is dressing by default due to a lack of appealing alternatives, but he's clearly at the bottom of the pecking order among New York's six defensemen -- each of the other five played at least 17:50 in this one. With a Nov. 10 goal in an 8-2 drubbing of Detroit comprising his entire season point total, Hajek hasn't made a strong case for more ice time.
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Rangers' Libor Hajek: Nets first goal since '21
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Hajek scored a goal and produced a plus-2 rating during Thursday's 8-2 victory over the Red Wings.
With the Rangers leading 6-2 after exploding for five consecutive markers, Hajek released what seemed to be an innocent wrist shot from the blue line. However, Michael Rasmussen attempted to block the shot and it deflected off the third-line center's stick and past Ville Husso, who was sliding over to cover the other post. It was Hajek's first goal since scoring against the Islanders on April 11, 2021.
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Rangers' Libor Hajek: Staying with Rangers
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The Rangers signed Hajek to a one-year, $800,000 contract Monday, per CapFriendly.
Hajek was often a healthy scratch last season; he tallied just one assist while averaging 13:08 of ice time in 17 games. He'll likely fill a similar depth role with the Rangers during the 2022-23 campaign.
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Rangers' Libor Hajek: Feeling better, but healthy scratch
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Hajek is over his illness but is listed as a healthy scratch for Tuesday's game against visiting Carolina.
Hajek has played in just two games since Feb. 2, and with 11 combined NHL points since 2018, he isn't likely to become fantasy relevant anytime soon.
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Rangers' Libor Hajek: Still out of action
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Hajek (illness) isn't expected to play Wednesday versus the Red Wings, Vince Z. Mercogliano of USA Today reports.
The Rangers' only lineup change from Tuesday's 3-2 win over the Penguins is at forward, so Hajek will miss another game. He's often been a healthy scratch, so it's no guarantee he'll play Friday versus the Islanders if he's over his illness.
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Rangers' Libor Hajek: Out Friday
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Hajek (illness) will not play Friday against the Penguins, Vince Z. Mercogliano of USA Today reports.
Hajek has dressed in just three games since the start of February. Once healthy, the 24-year-old will likely remain a scratch for the Rangers. He has one assist with a minus-7 rating in 16 games this season.
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Rangers' Libor Hajek: Absent from practice
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Hajek missed Thursday's practice due to illness, Colin Stephenson of Newsday reports.
Hajek has played in just two of the Rangers' last 17 games serving as a healthy scratch. Combine that with the addition of Justin Braun at the trade deadline and it doesn't seem like Hajek will be seeing a lot of opportunities down the stretch.
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Rangers' Libor Hajek: Being showcased for trade?
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Hajek skated 7:52 and picked up one shot in Sunday's 4-1 win over the Jets. It was his first game action since Feb. 1.
Coach Gerard Gallant's decision to go with 11 forwards and seven defensemen seems puzzling at first, but the decision to insert Hajek makes more sense when you consider that the trade deadline is approaching and New York's likely looking to move the 24-year-old defenseman. Hajek's value isn't high considering he has just one point in 15 games, but this cameo proves to potential trade suitors that he's at least healthy.
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Rangers' Libor Hajek: Remains non-factor on offense
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Hajek contributed one shot, two blocked shots, two PIM and a plus-1 rating over 11:48 of ice time in Sunday's 3-2 win over Seattle.
Even with Adam Fox (upper body) and Patrik Nemeth (personal) missing from the lineup, Hajek played a minimal role on the Blueshirts' blue line, bringing up the rear in TOI among defensemen. With just one point in 13 NHL appearances this season and 11 in 90 games throughout his career, Hajek hasn't demonstrated the offensive aptitude necessary to earn consideration in most fantasy formats.
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Rangers' Libor Hajek: Rejoins Rangers
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Hajek finished his conditioning stint with AHL Hartford and was recalled by the Rangers on Sunday, Colin Stephenson of Newsday reports.
The 23-year-old defenseman was a healthy scratch every game before heading to Hartford on Nov. 8 to begin the conditioning stint. It's unclear whether Hajek will find a spot in New York's lineup or if he'll once again just serve as a depth option.
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Rangers' Libor Hajek: Loaned for conditioning
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Hajek was assigned to AHL Hartford for a conditioning stint Monday, Colin Stephenson of Newsday reports.
Hajek has been a healthy scratch for all 12 games entering Monday. He'll see some action in the minors to keep his legs fresh and should be back with the big club in the near future.
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Rangers' Libor Hajek: Yet to play this season
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Hajek hasn't dressed for any of New York's first nine games.
The Rangers kept Hajek around as the team's eighth defenseman because dropping him down to the AHL level would expose him to waivers, where another team could claim the 23-year-old Czech for free. Jarred Tinordi is ahead of Hajek on the depth chart as the seventh defenseman, and there's a chance the team would call Zac Jones up from AHL Hartford before deploying Hajek in the event of multiple injuries on the blue line.
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Rangers' Libor Hajek: Inks two-way deal
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Hajek signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $874,125 with the Rangers on Saturday, per CapFriendly.
Hajek was a fairly regular presence in the lineup last season, but he amassed just four points, 33 shots on goal and 48 blocked shots in 44 contests. The 23-year-old should have a decent chance of making the Rangers' Opening Night roster out of training camp, but his two-way deal makes it easy for him to be sent to AHL Hartford if his performance slips. Hajek will likely compete with Ryan Lindgren and Patrik Nemeth for a bottom-four role.
