Penguins Release Defenseman, Freed To Sign Overseas

After spending a number of years bouncing between the NHL and the AHL, 25-year-old Czech Republic native Libor Hájek has been granted a release from his contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins' AHL affiliate in order for him to head back overseas.  

Libor Hájek and the Penguins and have mutually agreed to release the defenseman from his AHL contract so he can pursue professional opportunities in his native Czechia.
We wish Libor the best in his future. pic.twitter.com/w4tlmO3Okq

— WBS Penguins (@WBSPenguins) December 15, 2023

And with that, the former New York Ranger has signed a long-term deal in Czechia, with Dynamo Pardubice. 

Former #NYR Libor Hajek has signed a contract with Dynamo Pardubice in Czechia through 2028.

— NHL News (@PuckReportNHL) December 15, 2023

Hajek spent parts of the previous five seasons with the Rangers and their
AHL affiliate the Hartford Wolf Pack. He averaged around 15 minutes of ice time per game while with the Rangers in a 6th or 7th defenseman role, throughout 110 NHL contests. The sizable D-man (6'2", 210 pounds) registered 12 points and a minus-9 rating. He had played 11 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, the Penguins' AHL affiliate, this season. 

He came to Pittsburgh on a PTO this past fall, and earned a job with the Penguins' WBS team. 

Photo: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports