Since arriving from the Tampa Bay Lightning as a player the Rangers’ specifically targeted in the Ryan McDonagh/J.T. Miller trade, Libor Hajek hadn’t quite lived up to the expectations he arrived with. A strong five game cameo during the back half of the 2018-19 campaign appeared to be the start of something special, but Hajek was one of the worst defenseman in the league in the 28 games he skated before mercifully being demoted to AHL Hartford for the final two months of the 2019-20 season.
With K’Andre Miller’s arrival adding a highly touted prospect into the mix, as well as the questionable decision to sign Jack Johnson, the left side of New York’s defense appeared to be filled up.