Travis Zajac signs 1-day contract with Devils, retires
Travis Zajac is hanging up his skates as a member of the New Jersey Devils.
The 15-year NHL veteran signed a one-day contract with the Devils and announced his retirement Monday. He spent the first 1,024 games of his career in New Jersey. Ahead of the 2021 trade deadline, he was dealt to the New York Islanders, with whom he played 13 regular-season contests.
Zajac will remain with the organization in a player development and consulting role.
"Everyone in the NHL appreciates that Travis Zajac's work ethic and style of play were reflective of the New Jersey Devils," said Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald said. "His training, discipline, and focus rubbed off on every player who walked into that locker room over his 15-year career."
Zajac was regarded as one of the more reliable two-way centers of his era. A first-round pick of the Devils in 2004, he received downballot Selke Trophy votes seven times in his career, finishing as high as sixth in 2009-10 when he posted a career-best 67 points. He completes his career with a 53.8 faceoff win percentage.
The 36-year-old ranks fourth in Devils history in games played, third in goals (202), fifth in assists (348), and third in points (550).
Although Zajac never won a Stanley Cup, he did help the Devils reach the final in 2012, when he put up 14 points in 24 playoff games after missing nearly the entire regular season due to injury.
The Winnipeg, Manitoba, native represented Canada twice on the international stage, winning a silver medal at the 2009 World Championship.