Travis Zajac

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Travis Zajac
Zajac with the New Jersey Devils in 2014
Born (1985-05-13) May 13, 1985 (age 38)
Winnipeg, Manitoba
, Canada
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Position Centre
Shot Right
Played for New Jersey Devils
New York Islanders
National team  
NHL Draft
 20th overall,
2004
New Jersey Devils
Playing career 2006–2021

Travis Zajac (

2004 NHL Entry Draft, with whom he would go on to play for 15 years and over 1,000 NHL games. He also briefly played for the New York Islanders
.

Playing career

Amateur

Zajac began his

the year earlier, to play professional hockey.[7]

In his first season with North Dakota, Zajac scored 17 goals and 19 assists for 36 points, while only accumulating 16 penalty minutes. The Fighting Sioux, as the team's nickname was then known, advanced to the

2005 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament as the second seed in the East Regional. Zajac scored two goals in the Regional Final, as the Sioux beat Boston College to make it to the Frozen Four.[9] He added two more in the semifinal game against the University of Minnesota as the Sioux won 4–2.[10] Although the Sioux lost to the University of Denver in the championship game, Zajac tallied a power-play goal to tie the game.[11] Despite the loss, he was named to the Championship All-Tournament Team,[12] as well as the NCAA East All-Tournament Team and the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) All-Rookie Team.[13]

The following year, Zajac finished the season with 18 goals and 29 assists for 47 points. That season, the Sioux featured several future NHL players, including

NCAA tournament.[12] After defeating the University of Michigan and Holy Cross, the Sioux were in the Frozen Four for the second-straight year, but lost to Boston College in the semifinals.[12] Zajac scored three goals and three assists during the tournament, including two assists and a goal against Boston College.[15][16][17]

Professional

New Jersey Devils (2006–2021)

After North Dakota's season was over, Zajac signed an entry-level contract with the Devils, forgoing his last two seasons of college eligibility.

power play unit, scoring six goals with the man advantage.[20] He would finish the season with 17 goals and 25 assists; his 42 points were good enough for seventh among NHL rookies, as well as seventh among all Devils players.[13][20] In the 2007 Stanley Cup playoffs, Zajac scored his first career NHL post-season point with an assist in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Tampa Bay Lightning.[13] He would add two more assists in the series,[13] as the Devils would win the series in six games.[25] In Game 1 of the Semifinals against Ottawa, Zajac would score his first career post-season goal; the Senators, however, won the game 5–4.[13][26] Although Zajac earned an assist on linemate Langenbrunner's overtime goal in Game 2,[13] the Devils were eliminated in five games.[27] Zajac finished tenth in voting for the Calder Memorial Trophy, awarded to the NHL's rookie of the year,[28] and won the Devils' Fan Club award for Rookie of the Year.[29]

At the start of Zajac's sophomore season, he was still centering the second line with Zach Parise;[30] Brian Gionta replaced Langenbrunner on right wing while the latter recovered from sports hernia surgery.[31] Zajac scored his first goal of the season in the team's fifth game against the Atlanta Thrashers, a 6–5 Devils win.[32] In October, he was moved up to the top line, centering Gionta and Eliáš, and saw an increase in time on the power play unit.[33] January 2008 was a good month for Zajac – he had a four-game point streak, during which he tied his career high with a three-point game (three assists) against the Flyers.[13] Despite finishing with six multi-point games for the season, he saw an overall drop in production; he finished the season with just 14 goals and 20 assists.[13] He had one assist in five playoff games as the Devils were eliminated in the first round by the rival New York Rangers.[13]

"I'm able to do different things with the puck and, as a result, we're able to make plays that maybe we wouldn't have made last year. We all have each other's back and that's a good thing."

—Zajac, on his chemistry with ZZ-Pop linemates Zach Parise and Jamie Langenbrunner[21]

Heading into the

shootout attempt of the season, he scored the game-winning goal against the Flyers on December 21, and later that month scored his 100th career NHL point against the Rangers. He notched points in six straight games from late January to early February.[13] His season mark of +33 was first on the team and tied for fourth in the League, after finishing –11 the year before.[13] All told, Zajac set career highs in goals (20), assists (42) and points (62), as the ZZ Top line combined for 94 goals and 225 points.[21] In addition to his point-scoring abilities, Zajac improved his faceoff prowess, winning 53.1 percent of his faceoffs.[21] In the 2009 playoffs, Zajac netted one goal and three assists in seven games as the Devils lost in the first round to the Carolina Hurricanes.[34]

Zajac with the Devils in November 2010

During the subsequent off-season, Zajac signed a multi-year contract extension with the Devils, avoiding salary arbitration.[35] The 2009–10 season was one of many milestones for Zajac; he notched his 100th career assist in November, his 200th career point in March and appeared in his 300th game in February.[13] In January, he scored his first career overtime goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs. He had another six-game point-scoring streak from February to March, during which he scored three goals.[13] Zajac surpassed his previous year's totals in goals (25) and points (67), while tying his previous career best in assists (42).[13] The ZZ-Pop line continued to flourish, as Parise, Zajac and Langenbrunner finished 1–2–3, respectively, in team scoring; Zajac was second to Parise in all three major statistical categories.[36] He once again led the team in faceoffs, winning 52.9% of his draws.[37]

Zajac had high expectations heading into

tore his meniscus and was sidelined for several months.[40]
Further injuries and poor play forced Head Coach John MacLean to shuffle his lines further; Zajac's linemates for the first half of the season included Parise, Langenbrunner,[41] Kovalchuk, Zubrus, Brian Rolston, David Clarkson,[42] Eliáš and Adam Mair.[43] Despite the lack of stability for his wingmen, Zajac's faceoff ability continued to improve. He credited Assistant Coach Adam Oates, considered one of the premier faceoff men of his era, with the improvement.[44] Following the firing of MacLean and the trading of captain Langenbrunner, the Devils found themselves playing better under returning Head Coach Jacques Lemaire.[45] Zajac snapped a five-game pointless streak, and shortly thereafter scored a short-handed goal and added three assists in just three games.[45] Finding consistency on a line with Kovalchuk and rookie Nick Palmieri, his offense improved; during a 20-game streak, he scored five goals and added 11 assists.[46] On March 15, Zajac tied Ken Daneyko's team record for consecutive games played (388);[47] he broke the record the following game against Ottawa.[48] Although the Devils did not qualify for the 2011 playoffs, Zajac won the team's Unsung Hero award.[49]

Zajac (foreground) instructing his teammates prior to a face-off, April 2011

On April 24, 2012, Zajac scored his second career overtime goal against the Florida Panthers in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, to force a Game 7, which the Devils also won in double Overtime.

On January 16, 2013, Zajac re-signed with the Devils, committing to an eight-year, $46 million contract.[50]

On March 31, 2014, he recorded his first career hat-trick against Florida Panthers.[51]

While the 2017–18 season brought the Devils back to the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since 2012, Zajac played his fewest games since the 2012–13 season due to a pectoral injury.[52]

On February 21, 2021, during a game against the Washington Capitals, Zajac played his 1,000th career game for the Devils.[53] On March 30, 2021, during a game against the Boston Bruins, Zajac scored his 200th career goal.[54]

New York Islanders (2021)

During the pandemic-delayed

2022 fourth-round pick, and forwards A. J. Greer and Mason Jobst.[55][56]

Retirement

On September 20, 2021, Zajac signed a one-day contract to retire with the Devils.[57] Zajac was honored during a Devils game against the Winnipeg Jets on March 10, 2022, for playing 1,000 games with the team, where he also performed a ceremonial puck drop.[58]

International play

Medal record
Representing  Canada
Ice hockey
World Championships
Silver medal – second place
2009 Switzerland

Zajac was a member of Team Canada at the 2009 IIHF World Championship.[59] He scored no points in five games, and helped Canada to a silver medal, losing to Russia in the final.[59] He was later named as an alternate captain to the Canadian team for the 2011 IIHF World Championship.[60] He would finish with a goal and two assists in seven games[61] as Canada finished in fifth place.[62]

Playing style

"I'm a big, physical forward who can beat guys one-on-one... Drive the puck to the net. I win the battles in the corners. Pretty offensively skilled, more of my game is offensive, but defensively I'm pretty sound. A pretty versatile player. Play in all situations."

—Zajac, on his style of play in 2004[2]

Zajac is credited for being a versatile player, able to play on the power play and penalty kill equally well. Former coach Jacques Lemaire called him "the most complete player" on the team.[63] When they were on the same line, Parise credited his offensive output to Zajac's defensive responsibility.[21]

Personal life

Zajac's father played hockey for three years at the University of Denver. Travis's three brothers, Darcy, Kelly and Nolan, all play ice hockey as well.[64]

In 2009, Zajac married former captain of the University of New Hampshire women's ice hockey team Nicole Hekle.[65][66] The couple have three children.[67]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season
 Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2001–02 St. James Canadians MJHL 63 19 36 55 18 — — — — —
2002–03 Salmon Arm Silverbacks BCHL 59 16 36 52 27 — — — — —
2003–04 Salmon Arm Silverbacks BCHL 59 43 69 112 110 14 10 13 23 10
2004–05
University of North Dakota
 WCHA 43 17 19 36 16 — — — — —
2005–06 University of North Dakota WCHA 45 17 27 44 20 — — — — —
2005–06 Albany River Rats AHL 2 0 1 1 2 — — — — —
2006–07 New Jersey Devils NHL 80 17 25 42 16 11 1 4 5 4
2007–08 New Jersey Devils NHL 82 14 20 34 31 5 0 1 1 4
2008–09 New Jersey Devils NHL 82 20 42 62 29 7 1 3 4 6
2009–10 New Jersey Devils NHL 82 25 42 67 24 5 1 1 2 2
2010–11 New Jersey Devils NHL 82 13 31 44 24 — — — — —
2011–12 New Jersey Devils NHL 15 2 4 6 4 24 7 7 14 4
2012–13 New Jersey Devils NHL 48 7 13 20 22 — — — — —
2013–14 New Jersey Devils NHL 80 18 30 48 28 — — — — —
2014–15 New Jersey Devils NHL 74 11 14 25 29 — — — — —
2015–16 New Jersey Devils NHL 74 14 28 42 25 — — — — —
2016–17 New Jersey Devils NHL 80 14 31 45 33 — — — — —
2017–18 New Jersey Devils NHL 63 12 14 26 25 5 1 1 2 0
2018–19 New Jersey Devils NHL 80 19 27 46 20 — — — — —
2019–20 New Jersey Devils NHL 69 9 16 25 28 — — — — —
2020–21 New Jersey Devils NHL 33 7 11 18 6 — — — — —
2020–21 New York Islanders NHL 13 1 1 2 0 14 1 1 2 6
NHL totals 1,037 203 349 552 344 71 12 18 30 26

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2009 Canada WC 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 5 0 0 0 2
2011 Canada WC 5th 7 1 2 3 2
Senior totals 12 1 2 3 4

Awards and honours

Award Year
BCHL
BCHL Interior Division MVP 2004
BCHL All-Star Game 2004
College
Rookie Team
 2004–05
All-
All-Tournament Team
2005
 [68]
New Jersey Devils
Fan Club Rookie of the Year 2007
Unsung Hero 2011

Notes

^1 The Devils traded their first-round draft pick (22nd overall) and third-round draft pick (88th overall) to the Dallas Stars in exchange for Dallas' first-round pick (20th overall).[69]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "2003-04 Salmon Arm Silverbacks". Internet Hockey Database. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
  2. ^ a b c Jared Ramsden (July 1, 2004). "Devils 2004 Draft Review". Hockey's Future. Retrieved March 25, 2011.
  3. ^ "2003-04 BCHL League Leaders". Internet Hockey Database. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
  4. ^ Jay Thompson (August 22, 2004). "BCHL 2004 Draft Review". Hockey's Future. Retrieved March 25, 2011.
  5. ^ Jared Ramsden (August 1, 2004). "Devils Top 20 prospects". Hockey's Future. Retrieved March 25, 2011.
  6. ^ Ken McKenna (June 26, 2004). "Plot Lines Abound at 2004 NHL Draft". Hockey's Future. Retrieved March 25, 2011.
  7. ^ a b Joe Lapointe (June 28, 2004). "Looming Threat of Lockout Means Less Eventful Draft". The New York Times. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
  8. ^ Joe Lapointe (November 5, 2004). "The Little Rink on the Prairie in North Dakota". The New York Times. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  9. ^ "Sports Briefing". The New York Times. March 27, 2005. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
  10. ^ Joe Lapointe (April 8, 2005). "A Punishing Power Play Puts Denver a Step Closer". The New York Times. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
  11. ^ DJ Powers (April 10, 2005). "Denver wins 2005 NCAA championship". Hockey's Future. Retrieved March 29, 2011.
  12. ^ a b c "North Dakota men's hockey timeline". University of North Dakota. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Travis Zajac". New Jersey Devils Hockey Club. Retrieved March 25, 2011.
  14. ^ "2005-06 U. of North Dakota". Internet Hockey Database. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
  15. ^ Jayson Hron (March 24, 2006). "Never in Doubt". Inside College Hockey. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
  16. ^ Jayson Hron (March 25, 2006). "Powerful Sioux". Inside College Hockey. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
  17. ^ Jess Myers (April 6, 2006). "Collins Gets Tricky". Inside College Hockey. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
  18. ^ Jared Ramsden (September 11, 2006). "Devils training camp preview". Hockey's Future. Retrieved March 25, 2011.
  19. ^ Jared Ramsden (September 11, 2006). "Devils training camp preview". Hockey's Future. Retrieved March 29, 2011.
  20. ^ a b c d e f g Jared Ramsden (May 5, 2007). "Devils 2006-07 rookie review". Hockey's Future. Retrieved March 29, 2011.
  21. ^ a b c d e f g Mike G. Morreale (April 14, 2009). "Zajac's evolution leads to No. 1 center role". National Hockey League. Retrieved March 29, 2011.
  22. ^ Rich Chere (October 11, 2010). "Desperate John MacLean tried reuniting Devils' ZZ Pops line". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved March 29, 2011.
  23. ^ Eric Marin (March 14, 2011). "Iron Man 19". New Jersey Devils Hockey Club. Retrieved March 29, 2011.
  24. ^ Tanya Lyon (December 4, 2006). "Calder Corner: Travis Zajac". Hockey's Future. Retrieved March 29, 2011.
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  28. ^ "2007 NHL Awards". Hockeytalk News Flash. Retrieved April 5, 2011.
  29. ^ "Legends of Hockey - Travis Zajac". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved April 5, 2011.
  30. Bergen Record
    . Retrieved March 30, 2011.
  31. Bergen Record
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  32. Bergen Record
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  33. ^ Canadian Press (October 15, 2007). "Rookie class in NHL appears to be deep for poolies this season". National Hockey League. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
  34. ^ Brian Compton (April 29, 2009). "Hurricanes stun Devils to win Game 7". National Hockey League. Retrieved May 4, 2011.
  35. ^ "Devils sign C Travis Zajac to multiyear contract". National Hockey League. Associated Press. July 22, 2009. Retrieved May 25, 2011.
  36. ^ "2009-10 New Jersey Devils roster and player statistics". Internet Hockey Database. Retrieved May 25, 2011.
  37. ^ a b c Eric Marin (September 18, 2010). "Zajac shooting to be an impact player". New Jersey Devils Hockey Club. Retrieved May 25, 2011.
  38. ^ Dan Rosen (September 4, 2010). "NHL, NHLPA agree to contract rules, approve Kovalchuk's 15-year deal". National Hockey League. Retrieved May 25, 2011.
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  41. ^ Eric Marin (November 5, 2010). "Morning skate 11.5.10". New Jersey Devils Hockey Club. Retrieved May 25, 2011.
  42. ^ Eric Marin (November 16, 2010). "Devils notes 11.16.10". New Jersey Devils Hockey Club. Retrieved May 25, 2011.
  43. ^ Eric Marin (December 13, 2010). "Salmela ready to return". New Jersey Devils Hockey Club. Retrieved May 25, 2011.
  44. ^ Eric Marin (December 14, 2010). "Zajac finding faceoff groove". New Jersey Devils Hockey Club. Retrieved May 25, 2011.
  45. ^ a b Eric Marin (January 18, 2011). "Offensive charge powering current surge". New Jersey Devils Hockey Club. Retrieved May 25, 2011.
  46. ^ Eric Marin (January 19, 2011). "Improved Devils primed for Penguins". New Jersey Devils Hockey Club. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  47. ^ Eric Marin (March 14, 2011). "Iron Man 19". New Jersey Devils Hockey Club. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  48. ^ Rich Chere (March 17, 2011). "Last-place Senators are potholes in Devils' drive towards playoffs". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  49. ^ Rich Chere (April 7, 2011). "Patrik Elias is Devils' MVP for 2010-11; Travis Zajac voted Unsung Hero". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved June 14, 2011.
  50. ^ "Travis Zajac, Devils agree to 8-year, $46M contract". cbc.ca. January 16, 2013. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  51. ^ Chere, Rich (March 31, 2014). "Travis Zajac's first career hat trick lifts Devils to 6-3 win over Panthers". nj.com. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  52. ^ Beneteau, Josh (August 17, 2017). "Devils' Travis Zajac out 4 to 6 months after pectoral surgery". sportsnet.ca. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  53. ^ Whyno, Stephen (February 21, 2021). "T.J. Oshie scores twice, Capitals come back to beat Devils". AP News. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  54. ^ Tartaglia, Greg (March 30, 2021). "Instant analysis: NJ Devils blow lead, fall in shootout as Bruins surge in third period". northjersey.com. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  55. ^ "Islanders Acquire Palmieri and Zajac from the Devils". NHL.com. April 7, 2021. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  56. ^ "Islanders acquire Palmieri, Zajac from Devils". The Sports Network. April 7, 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  57. ^ "Zajac retires from NHL after signing one-day contract with Devils". NHL.com. September 20, 2021. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  58. ^ Kasan, Sam (March 9, 2022). "Devils Host Jets on Zajac's Night". New Jersey Devils.
  59. ^ a b Dave Lozo (May 18, 2009). "Zajac sees evenly matched finales in East, West". National Hockey League. Retrieved April 5, 2001.
  60. ^ "TEAM PROFILE". Hockey Canada. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
  61. ^ "Player statistics by team - CAN - Canada" (PDF). IIHF. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 9, 2012. Retrieved May 25, 2011.
  62. ^ "Tournament Progress" (PDF). IIHF. Retrieved May 25, 2011.
  63. ^ Rich Chere (March 25, 2010). "Jacques Lemaire says Travis Zajac is Devils' most complete player". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved June 14, 2011.
  64. ^ Hamilton, Jeff (July 10, 2014). "Youngest Zajac lives up to family name at Jets development camp". cbc.ca. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  65. ^ "NEW JERSEY DEVILS 2013-14 MEDIA GUIDE" (PDF). NHL.com. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  66. ^ Strang, Katie (February 21, 2013). "Zajac kept in check by harshest critic". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  67. ^ Gross, Andrew (March 10, 2017). "Greene will play but Zajac leaves Devs to be with wife". northjersey.com. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  68. ^ "NCAA Frozen Four Records" (PDF). NCAA.org. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
  69. ^ 2010–11 New Jersey Devils Media Guide. New Jersey Devils Hockey Club. 2010. p. 221.

External links

Awards and achievements
Preceded by
2004
 Succeeded by
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