The Tampa Bay Lightning's second-round pick, 37th overall, from the 2016 NHL Draft has decided to return to North America for the 2026-27 season, signing a one-year contract with the San Jose Sharks. 

Libor Hajek, 28, departed the Lightning organization in 2018, two years after being drafted, as a part of the trade that brought Ryan McDonagh to Tampa Bay for the very first time. McDonagh went on to help the Bolts win back-to-back Stanley Cups, while Hajek bounced between the New York Rangers and their American Hockey League affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack for a few years before heading back to his native Czechia. 

Hajek found success during his return to the Czech Extraliga, leading the league in game-winning goals by a defenseman in his first season back. Later that same year, he also helped Czechia win a gold medal at the IIHF World Championship. Then, during the 2025-26 season, he helped lead HC Dynamo Pardubice to an Extraliga title.

Hajek will have a tough time breaking into the Sharks' blue line which now has players like Darnell Nurse, Jacob Trouba, and Michael Kesselring in the mix, but it's far from impossible for him to do so.