LD Libor Hajek (2016, 37th, TBL; traded to NYR)
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HeavyHitter99
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- Jun 18, 2013
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I went to the Blades and Wheat Kings game on Saturday and quite honestly he didn't really stand out (to me anyways). Then again I was keeping a closer eye on Provorov and Clague.
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HeavyHitter99
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- Jun 18, 2013
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I was scouting the game last night in Edmonton, it was my first viewing of him.
He was the smartest player on the ice. He reads plays long before they happen and is a pain to play against since he takes the puck away from forwards so easily and closes the gap like nothing. His top speed isn't that great but his acceleration is fantastic, he gets to his top speed in just a few strides. Another of his main assets is how calm he is, he never panics and just makes the right plays consistently.
Offensively he gets in solid positions to create opportunities and is willing to call for the puck often. What he needs to work on though is his shot as at times it looked weak and his overall puck handling, he's a little rough around the edges with the puck.
OilTastic
Embrace The Hate
^and i was one of the 3100 in the stands watching this guy and the above is a good assessment. he's projected to be a lower 1st rounder as of October (and as we all know that could change by June), but even if he was taken in the high to mid 2nd round, players such as this are a tremendous value to the organization. i believe i have already picked him in one of my mocks this September....#48 to Boston. 
Steve Kournianos
@thedraftanalyst
Hajek showed some skill and flash at the Hlinka but he's far more composed and responsible than Budik or Hrdinka. He's one of the few prospects whose stats should mean very little. Almost like the Anton Stralman of the WHL in terms of being underappreciated because he won't likely put up numbers (not comparing them as defensemen)
Zaddy
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- Feb 8, 2013
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It's funny because this is basically exactly what I saw when I watched him for the first (and only) time some week ago. I started off really impressed with him and how well he thinks the game. He was just great in the defensive zone and looked, dare-I-say-it, unflappable. But the longer the game went on I noticed how poor his puck skills were and that was a pretty big warning sign for me and something he really have to work on. That right there dropped him from a late 1st round to somewhere in the 2nd or possible later than that for me personally. If he wants to be a top4 defender at the next level then he has to improve leaps and bounds with his puck handling, otherwise he's a terrific prospect. Hopefully it's just him adapting to the NA game and getting more comfortable as time goes on.
i believe i have already picked him in one of my mocks this September....#48 to Boston.
This needs to happen.
So far I've seen him only at the Hlinka tournament this past summer but I've got to admit I'm rather surprised by all the reports from North America. He looked like the exact opposite at Hlinka, playing a flashy, risky and very offensive game.
Steve Kournianos
@thedraftanalyst
He did, which in his case is a good thing. There was one game where he took the puck from his goal line, skated up the ice to meet a wall of four opponents, and weaved and circled around all four of them to set up a quality chance.
I like defensemen who are unpredictable in an elite way. Sort of like Ryan McDonagh in 2014 (before he became scared and/or scarred).
landy92mack29
Registered User
I'm not sure how you thought he was an offensive defenseman as he's a very quiet but effective shutdown d-man who shows the odd flash of what his offence could potentially be. Being 0.5 PPG is good for him and he should be a late 1st. He's a great skater, physical and very advanced defensively.
Here's an interview with him: http://www.tsn.ca/radio/edmonton-1260/hajek-i-ve-always-wanted-to-play-in-canada-1.445885
As he grows and develops I see him being a solid 3 weak 2. His offense will catch up a bit. See him hitting 45pts a season tops but being shut down and smart hockey
Over the past two seasons (not including this year) not even 20 D per season have hit 45 points. Not very many of those guys would be considered solid 3 or weak 2's.
I think this kid projects mostly as a shutdown guy but he does have some good smarts and a skillset to really be refined offensively. I do agree that he'll likely be more of a #3 D who borders on being a #2, though, I just think 45 points is a bit much. More like 35.
I think his game will end up being similar to what Beauchemin has been during his career.
untouchable21
I am not the guy you want to be wrong about.
Wouldn't mind if the Jets could snag him late in the first. Depends where that Chicago pick ends up being.
I'm with you! He's a shutdown LD which is exactly what the Jets need. I'm a fan of Libor.
LastWordArmy
Registered User
Steve Kournianos
@thedraftanalyst
http://www.thedraftanalyst.com/prospects/libor-hajek/
Under-the-radar in a sense. Like his game a lot. Offense is hit or miss, but remember how weak a team he played for this year and still produced nearly 30 points as a rookie defenseman. Way ahead of Stanley, McAvoy and Bean in terms of defending the ice and opponents.
The skating ability is not even close. Hajek is elusive and intelligent in small areas with and without the puck, but when he skates a distance with the puck he starts to slow down. He'll get squeezed off along the boards at times or forced to dump it in by the red line.
Intelligent defender overall however - a lot to like, he just makes good decisions with the puck, protects lanes well defensively, but the skating could limit him to bottom pairing.
Good passer, good feel for the game and he is a steadying consistent presence for his teammates and his coaches.
Steve Kournianos
@thedraftanalyst
Slowing down with the puck has more to do with confidence than actual speed. He can blow by people -- he has on occasion. He just chooses not to. He's one of the top skating dmen in the draft.
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