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Travis Zajac News & Rumors

Zajac & Co. confident for Game 7
April 26
New York Post
 
"This is more than Game 7 with its attendant do-or-die urgency. The Devils believe, fervently, that tonight is their springboard. Or it's their face plant. They think they have a secret weapon, the late addition that makes them so much better than their 102-point selves and, with just a little more rehearsal time, will make them a Stanley Cup contender. That secret weapon had little effect on that 102-point total, missing 65 games, but Travis Zajac exploded on the Panthers with his overtime winner Tuesday night in Game 6, putting the Devils on the brink of winning a series for the first time since 2007. "It would be a real shame to lose, because this may be the best chance we get," one"
Zajac's hard work pays off for Devils
April 25
New York Post
 
"Travis Zajac missed most of the season with an injured Achilles that limited him to 15 games and six points (two goals, four assists). Tuesday night, he surpassed that output with his third goal of the playoffs at 5:39 of overtime to lead the Devils to a 3-2 win over the Panthers, ensuring a Game 7 Thursday night against the Panthers. "I firsthand saw what this guy went through for months of rehab and the setbacks in the gym by yourself and on the ice by yourself and left behind while the team is traveling," Devils coach Pete DeBoer said after the game. "It's not a lot of fun, and it couldn't have happened to a better guy." Zajac missed the first 30 games of the season after suffering the"
Zajac, Devils force Game 7
April 25
New York Post
 
"The Dream lives again for the Devils. In Game 7 Thursday in Florida, they can triumph over the flops and fumbles of their stuttering bid to end four years of playoff failure. More than that, becaus of Travis Zajac's series-squaring overtime winner Tuesday night, they have earned yet another chance to create the magic that separates contenders from the average, magic their offensive wealth should already have bought. "This is just the first step," Ilya Kovalchuk said after setting up Zajac's overtime winner 5:39 into overtime for the Devils' 3-2 victory over the Panthers. "We didn't do anything, we didn't accomplish anything yet.""
Devs stronger in playoffs with Zajac
April 13
New York Post
 
"One twinge and he probably was gone, and with him would vanish much of the heightened hopes the Devils have for their return to the playoffs. Travis Zajac is the reason the playoff Devils are considerably better than the regular-season version of just three weeks ago. It's as if they acquired a No. 1 center just before the playoffs, significantly strengthening an already formidable team. Zajac is expected to line up as the Devils' No. 1 center, between Zach Parise and Ilya Kovalchuk, when they open the first round against the Panthers tonight."
Devils' Zajac likely to miss another month
February 10
NHL.com
 
"There's a good possibility New Jersey center Travis Zajac will be back on the ice within two weeks. Game action will take a little longer. According to Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello, Zajac, who has played just eight games this season while recovering from a torn left Achilles' tendon, must build up strength and flexibility in his foot and leg before starting to skate. Only then can he begin working his way back into practicing. "The good news is that it appears it has healed the way it should," Lamoriello told the media hours before his club hosted to the St. Louis Blues at Prudential Center. "In saying that, because he's been off the ice a number of weeks and he hasn't done"
Devils shut down Travis Zajac for two weeks (really 3) because of sore Achilles
January 11
Bergen Record
 
"The Devils have shut down center for the next two weeks at the recommendation of the surgeon who operated on his Achilles tendon, general manager Lou Lamoriello said this morning. With the all-star break coming up, Zajac's layoff will he three weeks. Zajac has not played since Jan. 2 in Ottawa because of soreness in his left Achilles tendon, which he tore during his offseason training on Aug. 17. He resumed skating this week and said after Tuesday's morning skate in Calgary that it was possible he could play tonight in Edmonton."
Travis Zajac happy about first game since Achilles injury
December 17
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"It was a long time coming for Devils center Travis Zajac, but he has finally started a new games-played streak. A torn Achilles tendon and subsequent surgery snapped Zajac's streak at 401 straight games when he missed opening night. But in his first game back he reported no problems. "I felt better as the game went on. I think I was a little tentative in the first. I think that's just human nature coming back fro man injury," said Zajac, who took 24 shifts for 15:22 centering the third line with Mattias Tedenby and David Clarkson. Although he had two scoring chances in the 6-3 victory over the Dallas Stars, Zajac's timing is off. "I think that's going to be the hardest thing to get back,""
Devils' Zajac to make season debut Friday
December 16
New York Post
 
"Devils coach Pete DeBoer said Travis Zajac will make his season debut Friday night against the Stars. Zajac has missed the Devils' first 30 games following Aug. 18 Achilles tendon surgery. Zajac skated between Mattias Tedenby and Eric Boulton in practice Thursday. Zajac's return will coincide with the Devils retiring Scott Niedermayer's No. 27."
Devils' Zajac practices for first time this season
December 8
New York Post
 
"For the first time this season, Devils top center Travis Zajac practiced with the team Wednesday, coming back from Aug. 18 Achilles tendon surgery. Zajac, who has skated on his own and with some of the Devils scratches and alumni lately, followed usual linemate Zach Parise onto the ice, the morning after a 3-2 overtime victory in Toronto. Devils CEO Lou Lamoriello said Zajac won't be in the lineup until late next week at the earliest."
Devils: Travis Zajac could practice with team in two weeks
November 23
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"Travis Zajac has been cleared by doctors and skated in New Jersey the past two days, Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello said today. The center, who underwent Achilles tendon surgery in August, will continue to skate for the next week and a half or two weeks. At that point, if all goes well, he will start practicing with the team in two weeks. "He has been released by the doctors. He is in town. He skated yesterday morning here and also this morning and will continue to do that for the next week and a half to two weeks," Lamoriello said. "And if everything is on schedule as it has been, he'll start practicing with the team in two weeks."
Devils' Zajac back skating after tearing Achilles
November 1
New York Post
 
"Although he would not offer a timetable for his return, injured Devils center Travis Zajac said Monday he has started skating in his recovery from August Achilles tendon surgery. Zajac said he skated Thursday and expects to hit the ice again later this week after he returns to hometown Winnipeg to continue his rehabilitation. "Just fooling around and getting used to being on skates. Baby steps," the Devils' No. 1 center said. "About a half-hour. It's easier than walking. Being in boots, you're locked up and don't use your Achilles that much.""
Devils center Travis Zajac faces uncertain timeframe in recovery from torn Achilles tendon
September 11
Bergen Record
 
"In previous Septembers, Devils center Travis Zajac would have been back in New Jersey already, skating and getting ready for the start of training camp. When the team's veterans take their training camp physicals a week from today at Prudential Center, however, Zajac will still be in Winnipeg recovering from Aug. 18 surgery to repair a torn left Achilles tendon. "It hasn't really sunk in too much yet that I won't be there for camp and I won't be around for exhibition (games) and even the start of the season," Zajac said this afternoon in his first interview since he was injured. "I think once I get to Jersey and see some guys playing then it will be a lot tougher. That I'm away from it now"
Zach Parise says loss of Travis Zajac will be tough for Devils
September 10
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"With Devils training camp a week away, winger Zach Parise did a little acting today in a video that was filmed to promote the NHL Network's re-branded "On the Fly" show. The Star-Ledger had exclusive access to watch the filming of the video and Parise spoke to me just prior to the shooting in which he was shown with his right leg in a whirlpool tub while watching the NHL Network. Parise, who was engaged in early August and will be married next July back home in Minnesota, discussed the loss of center Travis Zajac, who underwent surgery Aug. 18 to repair a torn Achilles tendon. Zajac suffered the injury during off-ice training and could be lost even longer than the stated estimate of three"
Zajac surgery won't faze Lou
August 19
New York Post
 
"Lou Lamoriello says there's "no panic," since he has options to replace No. 1 center Travis Zajac, who will probably miss the first quarter of the Devils' comeback season following Achilles tendon surgery yesterday. Several veteran unrestricted free agent centers remain on the market, including Kyle Wellwood, Mike Modano, Chris Drury and even ex-Devil John Madden. Zajac, the franchise-record Iron Man whose streak of 401 consecutive games played will end come opening night against the Flyers, will be out until at least mid-November, probably missing some 20 games. "There's no panic. That's what we have depth for, and a minor league system," the Devils general manager said. "It had to be"
Devils' Travis Zajac likely to miss season opener after surgery to repair Achilles tendon
August 19
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"The Devils released a statement today saying center Travis Zajac underwent surgery today to "repair his left Achilles tendon." The team said Zajac was injured Wednesday in his hometown of Winnipeg participating in what the team deemed "off-ice training." The Devils did not disclose the severity of the injury. After today's surgery in Winnipeg, the 26 year old will miss 8-10 weeks. Under that timetable, Zajac's recovery will prevent him from participating in the Devils' training camp, preseason games and the start of the regular season. The Devils open the preseason Sept. 21 against the Rangers and the regular season Oct. 8 at the Prudential Center against the Philadelphia Flyers."
Devils lose Travis Zajac for at least 10 weeks due to left Achilles tear
August 19
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"The Devils suffered a tremendous blow with only a month to go until the start of the preseason, as center Travis Zajac tore his left Achilles tendon while training and will miss the beginning of the regular season. Zajac suffered the injury Wednesday while doing plyometrics in his native Winnipeg and underwent surgery today. He was the Devils' third-leading scorer last season with 44 points. The surgery was successful, the team said, and it will take roughly three months until he will be ready to play in an NHL game. "Ten weeks, he'll be skating," general manager Lou Lamoriello said. "It'll take a little under three months before he's in the lineup." Lamoriello said that the Devils will"
Devils' Zajac out until November with Achilles injury
August 18
New York Post
 
"The Devils will open the season without their No. 1 center, Travis Zajac, who will be out until mid-November following Achilles tendon repair Thursday. "There's no panic. That's what we have depth for, and a minor-league system," GM Lou Lamoriello said. "It had to be repaired, so it was torn," said Lamoriello, who said he did not know whether the vital tendon in his left calf was severed."
NHL returns to Winnipeg, Devils center Travis Zajac's hometown, in 2011-12
June 1
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"The NHL is coming back to Winnipeg in 2011-12. Commissioner Gary Bettman announced in a press conference today that the Atlanta Thrashers have been sold to the True North Sports and Entertainment group and will be moved to the Manitoba city to play its games in the 15,015 seat MTS Centre. Devils center Travis Zajac, a native of Winnipeg, is thrilled. "I might be the only excited guy," Zajac told me jokingly. "I grew up watching the Jets for a little bit. For other people in Winnipeg, it's great. I think the fan support is there. They lost the team once. You know they're not going to lose the team again." Zajac is anxious to play in his hometown. "For me it's great. I have friends and"
Zajac ties Daneyko
March 16
Bergen Record
 
"As much as Travis Zajac enjoyed tying Ken Daneyko's Devils' record by playing in his 388th consecutive regular-season game, that came in a distant second Tuesday night to his deflection goal in the first period. That cut the Devils' deficit to 2-1 to end a sloppy period, and gave them life heading into the second. "I think it just helped not being down two and being down one," Zajac said. "We've been in that situation before, so it's not like it's new to us. If we play better, we'll get our chances and we did." Daneyko, who now works for MSG Network, congratulated Zajac during an on-ice interview after the game. Zajac can break the record Thursday in Ottawa. "It was kind of cool," Zajac"
Travis Zajac ready to match Devils' mark
March 15
Bergen Record
 
"Travis Zajac has just one more obstacle to clear to equal Ken Daneyko's Devils' record of playing in 388 consecutive regular-season games. Zajac needs to remain healthy enough to suit up for tonight's game against the Atlanta Thrashers at Prudential Center. "Hopefully I make it," Zajac joked Monday. "I feel pretty good." Daneyko, a former defenseman-turned-TV analyst, kidded that he had other plans, though. "Maybe I'll wait for him and do a Tonya Harding attack on him," Daneyko said. Getting serious, Daneyko expressed great admiration for the 25-year-old Zajac, who hasn't missed a game since Oct. 24, 2006 in Pittsburgh. Daneyko's consecutive games streak began Nov. 4, 1989 and ended March"
Zajac on cusp of eclipsing Daneyko as Devils' iron man
March 15
New York Post
 
"The Preposterous Dream even overshadows his iron man record, Ken Daneyko says. Mr. Devil jests that otherwise, he might knock Travis Zajac out of action before he equals Daneyko's consecutive-game team record tonight. "I thought about tripping him in the hallway. I can't do that. He's too important to keep the miracle going," Daneyko said of Zajac matching his record of 388 straight games in a Devils uniform tonight when the Thrashers visit Newark. "Ah, records are made to be broken, and he should be proud. I certainly was," Daneyko said. "He's been a model of consistency for this organization. I really admire him. "If someone has to break it, it's nice to see it broken by a quality person"
Zajac scores game-winner in overtime
March 12
New York Post
 
"his Preposterous Dream has become too dramatic too often to dismiss or deny. It's no laughing matter, except to the Devils who are pulling it off. They're giggling about the history they're making. The very Undead Devils rose again last night, just when their playoff hopes were on the verge of extinction. This would have been the most dramatic of their 21 victories in 25 games, if not for so many of the others that were just as breathtaking. "We needed this game. We needed this game," coach Jacques Lemaire said after the Devils beat the Thrashers 3-2 in overtime last night, Travis Zajac's winner the first moment they led all night."
Peers vote Devils' Travis Zajac one of NHL's most underrated players
January 30
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"Devils center Travis Zajac has been voted one of the league's most underrated players by his peers. In the CBC's Hockey Night in Canada and NHLPA Player Poll, Zajac was tied with Patrick Sharp of the Chicago Blaclhawks for third most-underrated player in the league. Loui Eriksson of the Dallas Stars was voted most underrated while Frans Nielsen of the Islanders finished second."
Patrik Elias, Travis Zajac get stuck in blizzard
December 28
Bergen Record
 
"The weather outside was frightful and Patrik Elias and Travis Zajac really had no place to go once Elias' car got stuck in the snow on Route 280 west on Sunday night. So, that's where the two Devils forwards spent the night, until a tap on the window at 7 a.m. Monday woke them up and directed them to safety. Elias and Zajac are neighbors so, with a significant snowstorm laying siege to New Jersey, they carpooled to the Devils' game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Prudential Center. Travel was not easy with the blizzard dropping more than 2 feet of snow on the area. The announced attendance was 5,329, but the actual crowd was probably less than half of that because of the snow. Following"
Ilya Kovalchuk and Travis Zajac can't enjoy their goals in Devils' setback
December 5
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"On another day, Ilya Kovalchuk and Travis Zajac would've been wearing smiles. Both scored goals today in Philadelphia to end long personal droughts, but the Devils fell to the Flyers, 5-3, and both had regrets over key plays in the match. Kovalchuk failed to score on a second period breakaway and Zajac lost a faceoff with Mike Richards which resulted in a Flyers goal in the third. With 6:38 remaining in the second period and the score tied, 2-2, Kovalchuk had a breakaway, only to be stopped by Flyers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky. "It could've been (a game-changer), but the puck was rolling the whole time," coach John MacLean said. "It would've been helpful." Kovalchuk made no excuses, although"
Travis Zajac scores in shootout to lift Devils past Flyers, 2-1
November 28
Bergen Record
 
"One pretty good week won't be enough to turn the Devils' season around, but they're hoping it's a start. They'll try to forget about their ugly loss to the last-overall Islanders on Friday and focus instead on the three wins they earned, including their hard-fought 2-1 shootout victory over the Philadelphia Flyers Saturday afternoon at Prudential Center. Goaltender Johan Hedberg capped off a spectacular week by making 40 saves in regulation and overtime and allowing only one of the four Flyers' shooters in the shootout - Nikolai Zherdev - to beat him. After Jason Arnott kept the Devils alive by beating Brian Boucher high to the glove side in the third round, Travis Zajac won it in the"
Travis Zajac and Andy Greene avoided injuries in Devils' loss
November 21
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"Two key Devils avoided serious injuries in the team's 3-2 loss to the Blues Saturday night. Andy Greene was run into the end boards by Matt D'Agostini at 6:40 of the first period. He came off the ice holding his left arm, but said it was only a stinger in his shoulder. "I just went into the boards awkward," Greene said. "My head was fine. My shoulder got a little bit of a stinger. I went off to check it out and everything was OK." Travis Zajac was hit in the left leg by an Ilya Kovalchuk slap shot with 3:16 left in the first period and limped onto the bench. "Just in my leg," Zajac said. "(The shot) goes in probably, too. Those are the bounces we're getting right now.""
Travis Zajac is baffled by his lack of goals this season
November 3
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"Travis Zajac is 0-for-the trip. No goals. No assists. In fact, the Devils center hasn't scored a goal since opening night on Oct. 8 and has just one in 13 games this season. "I feel great on the ice. I feel I'm doing the same things I was last year, but for some reason it's been tough," Zajac said. "I think it's just sticking with it, doing the same things over and over again. It comes down to working hard. It will come after that." Zajac scored 25 goals last season and 20 in 2008-09, so this is a disturbing start. After 13 games last season Zajac had five goals. He insists he isn't letting it bother him. "There's no point in playing the victim not scoring," he said. "It's been a struggle"
NHL fines Sabres' Kaleta for attempted headbutt on Zajac
October 17
TSN.ca
 
"Sabres forward Patrick Kaleta has been fined by the NHL for his attempted headbutt on the Devils' Travis Zajac on Wednesday in Buffalo. Late in the first period, Kaleta and Zajac clashed in front of the New Jersey bench. Kaleta leaned in towards Zajac and tried to make contact using his head."
Devils' big line showed flashes of brilliance in season opener
October 9
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"The Devils' top line didn't disappoint. Before Friday night's season opener against the Dallas Stars was 7 1/2 minutes old, Ilya Kovalchuk had already set up goals by Travis Zajac and Zach Parise for a 2-0 lead. Kovalchuk then hit the right post with a shot at 9:25 of the first that could've made it, 3-0. "I think we started well and then slowed down," Kovalchuk said of the line. "I'm sure we can do much better." Coach John MacLean said of the line: "I thought they had some jump. They had some good opportunities and they put the puck in the net there. They looked good and hopefully they'll keep getting better.""
Devils to Zajac: Just shoot it!
September 30
Bergen Record
 
"Travis Zajac isn't a selfish hockey player, even if his Devils teammates continue to encourage him to become one. Centering what could be the Eastern Conference's most productive first line with Zach Parise and Ilya Kovalchuk, Zajac acknowledges he will have to adjust his on-ice mentality just a little bit for the talented trio to reach its prolific potential. "It's my job to make plays, give them the puck and create some chances, and it's an easy job when you have two of the best goal scorers in the league on either side," Zajac said. "When opportunities are there, I can't pass them up, because it will just lead to more space for those guys. The more I play with them, the more comfortable"
Devils may have to dump Zajac in order to keep Kovalchuk
August 30
New York Post
 
"It's difficult to fathom, but rumors are floating that Travis Zajac may be among the players the Devils will eventually sacrifice to get under the salary cap if Ilya Kovalchuk's $100 million, 15-year contract is approved by the NHL. Conventional wisdom suggests Bryce Salvador ($2.9 million) and Dainius Zubrus ($3.4 million) are the obvious candidates to surrender for the $3-5 million in cap space the Devils would need to clear by the start of the season if Kovalchuk's deal is approved. Zajac has been the Devils' No. 1 center for three seasons, since Scott Gomez departed, but New Jersey acquired Jason Arnott this summer, seemingly solidifying the pivot position that would again need help if"
Travis Zajac knew he hadn't actually had four assists in the game
April 11
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"Travis Zajac knew he shouldn't have been credited with four assists in the game long before the official scorer got around to changing the final scoresheet. "I don't think I should have had four - I think Zach (Parise) should have had that first one,'' he said after the game. And indeed, Zach Parise ended up getting the second assist on Dainius Zubrus' goal that opened the scoring in the 7-1 victory over the Islanders. But still, three assists for Zajac -- who started on one line and was switched to another after the first period -- is a pretty good night. "Travis is a player that I enjoy a lot to watch, because I think he's a complete player,'' Devils coach Jacques Lemaire said of Zajac."
Travis Zajac has been a factor in Ilya Kovalchuk's recent surge for Devils
March 27
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"Travis Zajac laughed a slightly embarrassed laugh when asked if it was he who was the one responsible for Illya Kovalchuk's offensive outburst in the last two games. "No, it's not me,'' he said. Maybe not. But Zajac is a definite factor in Kovalchuk's surge. Against Columbus, when Kovalchuk had a goal and three assists, two of those assists came on deflection goals by Zajac. And Devils coach Jacques Lemaire said after practice today, "Travis is a good fit for (Kovalchuk). He moves the puck quick, gets in the open, they know where they are on the ice, and Kovy's started to know him well. So that's why there's a connection with the two there, when they're playing together. They've got good"
Travis Zajac and Zach Parise each score twice to lead New Jersey Devils to 6-3 win over Blue Jackets
March 24
New York Daily News
 
"A resurgent power play and the return of Ilya Kovalchuk turned a chorus of boos into wild cheers Tuesday night as the Devils snapped a two-game skid with a 6-3 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets at the Prudential Center. Two days after Kovalchuk was in Florida to be with his wife for the birth of their third child, the left winger recorded his first points since March 13, scoring a goal and adding three assists as he appeared in the box score for the first time in five games. "The guys supported me. Nobody was pointing fingers, even though we lost two games and it was a tough stretch for us," said Kovalchuk, who delivered one of his best games since joining the Devils on Feb. 5. After"
Travis Zajac hit by puck in practice but says he's okay
January 12
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"It was a shot by Johnny Oduya -- a wrist shot, coach Jacques Lemaire felt compelled to point out -- that stung Travis Zajac. The puck hit him in the ankle, where there is no padding, and Zajac was in intense pain for a short while. But the pain went away relatively quickly, he said. "I came in and just rubbed it down quick, the pain went away,'' Zajac said. "You get there and it gets numb for a second … After that, it didn't hurt much at all. I kind of felt like a 'wuss.'''"
Travis Zajac may have put his finger on the issue
January 8
Bergen Record
 
"Travis Zajac missed the first 35 minutes of practice Thursday, but he had a good excuse. The Devils' center was having his right pinkie checked out by doctors after he was slashed by Dallas' Steve Ott on Tuesday night. X-rays were negative and Zajac will play in tonight's game against Tampa Bay at Prudential Center. Zajac wore a plastic splint on his pinkie when he did finally make it on the ice for the remainder of practice and it was bleeding a little afterward, but he said, "It's all good." "It was just a cut nail and it was a little tough to grip the stick [Wednesday], so it's just a precaution to get it checked it out," he said. "I kind of thought it was all right, just a little"
X-rays show no fracture in NJ Devils center Travis Zajac's pinky
January 7
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"The Devils received some good news Thursday when X-rays showed Travis Zajac's sore right pinky was not broken. Zajac was slashed by Dallas Stars forward Steve Ott Wednesday night and remained sore enough to have it examined. "It just sort of caught the nail. It was a little tough to grip the stick," Zajac said. "It's all good, which was good to hear." Zajac joined his teammates on the ice halfway through Thursday's practice at the Prudential Center. "What are you talking about? I was out there the whole time," he joked. He hopes to discard the plastic guard that is taped to his finger when the Devils host the Tampa Bay Lightning Friday night. Coach Jacques Lemaire, undoubtedly relieved"
Zajac key factor in ending linemate Zach Parise's goal-scoring drought
December 30
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"Devils coach Jacques Lemaire said he thought "things will happen" if he put Travis Zajac (left) and Zach Parise (right) back on the same line.All of Devils world rejoiced on Monday when Zach Parise finally ended his goal-scoring drought at 12 games with a pair of goals that helped the Devils beat the Atlanta Thrashers, 3-2. But according to coach Jacques Lemaire, the key to Parise notching his 16th and 17th goals of the season had as much or more to do with Travis Zajac picking up his game than anything else. Zajac and Parise began the game on different lines Monday, but Lemaire said he noticed as soon as the game started that Zajac looked sharp, so he changed the lines to put Zajac and"
Lemaire: 'Z' change is necessary
December 18
New York Post
 
"It's the recent results, or more precisely, the lack of them that prompted coach Jacques Lemaire yesterday to break up his Z-men -- Zach Parise and Travis Zajac. Whether he tries it out in earnest, when the Senators visit Newark tonight (7 p.m., MSG+, WFAN), remains to be seen, but it had an effect by just of doing it in practice yesterday. Parise only leads the league's point percentage leaders with 15 goals and 35 points, and after the Devils won their sixth in seven with a 2-1 triumph over the Canadiens in Newark on Wednesday, shared the league lead with 140 shots and a plus-minus of plus-17. All that is despite being mired in an eight-game goal drought. So Lemaire pulled the plug on"
Good deal: Travis Zajac a happy Devil
July 23
Boston Herald
 
"Travis Zajac wants to be a big part of the Devils' future as a player and a leader. The 24-year-old center will have the opportunity to do that after re-signing with the team for four years and a total of $15.55 million. "I'm glad we got a deal done and I'm excited," Zajac said Wednesday. "I'm happy to be with the Devils for four years and I'm excited about the team next year and (new head coach Jacques Lemaire) and ready to go." Avoiding a potentially contentious arbitration hearing Friday morning in Toronto, Zajac and general manager Lou Lamoriello agreed to the contract late Tuesday night. The deal will pay Zajac, who was a restricted free agent, $2.75 million this season, $3.5 million"
Devils Give Zajac 4-year Deal
July 23
New York Post
 
"Preventing another arbitration mess, Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello yesterday signed Travis Zajac to a four-year deal averaging $3.89 million. Zajac, 24, had elected an arbitration hearing, scheduled for tomorrow, for his second NHL contract, and could have expected an award between $3 million to $3.5 million for each of two years, up from his entry-level $984,000 earned last season. Instead, Zajac will earn $2.75 million this season, $3.5 million in 2010-11, $4.5 million in 2011-12 and $4.8 million 2012-13. He will be 28 when his deal is done, and likely will be eligible for unrestricted free agency, depending on the provisions of the next collective bargaining agreement."
Travis Zajac signed to four-year deal by Devils
July 22
The Times of Trenton
 
"A potentially uncomfortable salary arbitration hearing was averted Wednesday when the Devils were able to sign restricted free agent center Travis Zajac to a new four-year contract. The arbitration hearing was scheduled for Friday in Toronto. As late as Monday, Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello said it appeared no deal would be worked out before that hearing. "I wasn't concerned about arbitration because when it is necessary it is necessary," Lamoriello told me Wednesday morning. "It's a constant communication. You talk and you never know when something is going to break. This all came about very late last night. We didn't even inform the arbitration people until this morning." Zajac"
With no agreement in sight, NJ Devils center Travis Zajac headed for arbitration hearing
July 20
The Times of Trenton
 
"The Devils would like to have avoided salary arbitration with center Travis Zajac, but that is now unlikely. Zajac and general manager Lou Lamoriello are headed for Friday's arbitration hearing, a process that is often nasty. "We'll have as many conversations as are necessary, but right now it's leaning toward arbitration," Lamoriello said Monday. "It's hard to explain. At this moment there is nothing, although there is no animosity whatsoever." Lamoriello said he hasn't decided whether the team will ask the arbitrator for a one or two-year deal in the hearing. "We won't decide that until the last minute," the GM said. Goalie Kevin Weekes, an unrestricted free agent, will not be coming"