Lightning director of amateur scouting Al Murray said the Bolts were able to nab a first-round caliber player in the early stages of the second round by moving up, and Hajek was a “safer bet†than DeAngelo to be able to adapt both offensively and defensively at the NHL level.
“You have to give sometimes to get,†Murray said. “Libor Hajek, he’s a bigger body, and he’s a very solid two-way player.â€
Tampa Bay general manager Steve Yzerman indicated the trade to get Hajek wasn’t an indictment on the development of DeAngelo but more of a reflection of the potential the Bolts see in Hajek.
“We think Anthony’s an outstanding young prospect,†Yzerman said. “We’ve watched Libor Hajek for two years now. He’s a player we considered taking in the first round. When we saw him there in the second, we were trying to figure out a way to get him, and it was very expensive using picks and what not. Ultimately, we thought (trading up) was the best route o acquire him.â€