Last minute surprise on the waivers following the major trade from New York

Due to the huge trade that occurred during the day, the New York Rangers had to release a defenseman from their lineup, to make room for Niko Mikkola, who was acquired along with Vladimir Tarasenko.

Now comes word that the player sacrificed by the Blue Shirts is Libor Hajek. In order to send him back to the minors, the latter must go through the waivers.

The man who just turned 25 is a 6-foot-2 defenseman who is known for being solid defensively. He was a second round pick in 2016, the 37th overall.

By the way, just last year, the Rangers absolutely did not want to trade him, just goes to show how quickly things change in the NHL.

Now that he's available to every team in the league, there's a good chance he'll be claimed, as he costs just $0.800M per year and will become a restricted free agent this summer.

Clearly, New York had to make a quick decision to free up money and roster space.

Credit: HabsetLNH.com

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