5 players the New Jersey Devils could trade by the deadline
By Mary Clarke
3. Travis Zajac, C
The lifelong New Jersey Devil himself, Travis Zajac, could find himself on the trade block in the weeks to come. NHL veterans with scoring experience — and centermen especially — usually get a lot of play at the trade deadline as teams look to acquire depth down the middle for long playoff runs.
At 34-years-old, Zajac is past his prime as a hockey player, but still has production left in him. This season, Zajac has 17 points (6 goals) in 45 games played and is unlikely to get to the 20-goal mark he nearly hit a season ago. Zajac was never known as a goal scorer in his career, as in 14 years in the NHL he has just 192 goals, but he provides depth down the middle with a more defensive side to his game.
If an option on the trade block, teams will have to fit his $5.75 million cap hit in their books, as Zajac has one more year left on his eight-year deal signed back in 2013. Zajac also has a no-trade clause in his contract, and would have to agree to a trade with a team before being dealt.
Given his age and the Devils’ woes, however, Zajac may want a chance to play on a contender for the opportunity to win a Stanley Cup in the coming years, a possibility he likely won’t reach in New Jersey.
Though not the most exciting name to come out of New Jersey, NHL GMs always seem to flock around veteran players looking for second chances at the trade deadline, and Zajac no doubt fits that bill.