It’s no mystery that Libor Hajek was an important component in the Ryan McDonagh trade last season. New York Rangers management acknowledged that he was the one guy that they wanted and was the one guy that Steve Yzerman didn’t want to give up. It was even reported that the Rangers’ insistence on Hajek that resulted in J.T. Miller becoming part of the deal.
Hajek was drafted 37th overall in the second round of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. Yzerman traded up to get him and used the draft pick he acquired by trading Tony DeAngelo to Arizona.