Sharks sign Libor Hajek to one-year contract
An offseason full of change and player movement for the San Jose Sharks continued on Wednesday, as the team announced the signing of defenseman Libor Hajek to a one-year contract.
According to PuckPedia, Hajek’s deal is a two-way contract that will carry a salary cap hit of $850,000 at the NHL level, pay him at an annual rate of $350,000 in the AHL and guarantee him a minimum compensation of $425,000 for the 2026-27 season.
The #SJSharks signed 28 y/o D Libor Hajek to a one year two-way contract NHL: $850K Minors: $350K Guaranteed: $425K puckpedia.com/player/libor-h…
Hajek, a 28-year-old left-handed defenseman, spent the entirety of the past two years playing for HC Dynamo Pardubice of the Czech Extraliga. This past season, he racked up 13 points in 44 regular season games while being held pointless in eight appearances for the Czech national team at the IIHF World Championships.
The No. 37 overall pick of the 2016 NHL Draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning, Hajek was dealt to the New York Rangers in the trade that sent Ryan McDonagh and J.T. Miller from the Rangers to the Bolts in February of 2018.
Hajek has appeared in 110 career NHL contests, all coming with New York, and has recorded 12 points on four goals and eight assists while skating to a career minus-9 rating on an average of 14:53 of time on ice per game.
Now, Hajek comes back to North America, likely with an aim toward competing for a depth role with a Sharks team that has been aggressive in rebuilding its defensive unit.
General manager Mike Grier traded for Michael Kesselring and veteran Darnell Nurse and signed experienced right-hander Jacob Trouba to a lucrative contract in free agency. That trio joins incumbent veteran Dmitri Orlov and promising youngster Sam Dickinson to form the core of San Jose’s new-look defense.
Along with Hajek, the other defensemen that could be in the mix for NHL playing time includes Luca Cagnoni, Mattias Havelid and possibly other acquisitions yet to transpire.
According to PuckPedia, Grier still has over $12 million in flexibility under the salary cap to make further additions to his roster.