'REAL CLOSE'
Coach: Young stud acquired in Tampa deal might be ready for next year
EDMONTON, Alberta — John Paddock is the coach of the WHL Regina Pats, which means he’s the coach of Libor Hajek, the must-have kid defenseman who was the centerpiece of the deal that sent Ryan McDonagh and J.T. Miller from the Rangers to Tampa Bay.
Paddock, who has a four-decade pedigree in the business, has coached Winnipeg and Ottawa in the NHL. He has coached four teams in the AHL, including the Wolf Pack, whom he led to the Calder Cup in 2000. Now he is both coach and senior vice president of the Pats.
His opinion is to be respected. His opinion, expressed during the second intermission of Friday night’s match in Calgary as he and Hajek took in the Blueshirts’ 3-1 victory over the Flames a night before their team was set to play the WHL Hitmen in the Saddledome and the Rangers would be in Edmonton to face the Oilers.
And Paddock’s opinion is that Hajek, the Lightning’s secondround, 37th-overall selection of the 2016 entry draft, is not far away from making the jump to New York. As in, maybe even next season. “I think he’s pretty close to playing in the NHL right now, and no, it would not surprise me if he competes for a spot next year,” Paddock said. “I don’t think that puts [unfair] extra pressure on him. I think that’s where he is. “Real close.” Understand, the Rangers did not trade for Hajek, who turned 20 on Feb. 4, with the expectation that he’d be on the 2018-19 Broadway blue line. They’re looking long-term for Hajek, without whom the deal in which the Rangers also acquired WHL Moose Jaw center Brett Howden and either two first-round picks or one first and one second. They’re not going to rush him.
Still, they sure wouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth if the defenseman’s development is on that type of accelerated path. And as the Rangers’ two 2017 firstrounders, Lias Andersson and Filip Chytil, have played this season with the AHL Wolf Pack, Hajek would be eligible to play in Hartford next season.
“I called [Chytil] after the trade,” Hajek said of his fellow Czech native and teammate at the World Junior tournament. “I wanted to know how it is in New York. He told me it’s really nice there.”
The help-wanted sign is hanging outside the Garden as the Rangers reconstruct their roster. Young defensemen Neal Pionk, John Gilmour and Tony DeAngelo are getting evaluated right now in an NHL world that rewards skill, speed and skating ability.
“I really like the fast, new-style hockey,” said Hajek, who has recorded 35 (11-24) points thus far in a year split between Saskatoon and Regina. “I want to play good defense first, but I also join the rush with the forwards. I think I have a good shot. I’m a good passer and have good vision. If there’s one thing to work on, maybe I need to take more shots and be more selfish.”
Paddock not only endorsed Hajek’s skill level but, at least as importantly, the work ethic of the 6-foot-2, 203-pound lefty.
“He’s a super kid,” Paddock said. “He wants to improve. He stays at the rink and works on his skills. Not everybody is like that.
“He’s a strong skater with highend skill. And there’s more to come with his offensive game. He’s a top-four.”
The Pats are the host team for the Memorial Cup, so Hajek, who played for the Czech Republic in each of the last two World Junior tournaments, is guaranteed a spot in the CHL championship tournament.
“It’s a big stage,” Paddock said. “It will be a great experience for him.”
Hajek, who said he was “kind of shocked” to learn he’d been traded to the Rangers, is prepared to embrace the challenge. Paddock has no doubt about that.
“He’s big, he skates, he has skill. There’s very little he can’t do,” said the coach. “There’s nothing to stop him.”
Alexandar Georgiev got the start in nets, the third of his NHL career, against the Oilers following Henrik Lundqvist’s historic consecutive 50-save performances in the victories over the Canucks and Flames. The Blueshirts entered Saturday seeking to sweep the western Canada trip for the second straight year.