New Jersey Devils re-sign Travis Zajac to 8-year deal -NHL Update
The New Jersey Devils were fast to do it and they knew that if they did not make a move, somebody elese would have seeing the hectic situation as teams all over the National Hockey League (NHL) gear up for a fast paced season.
New Jersey’s latest move was re-signing a top level youngster, Travis Zajac, to a fresh eight-year contract, worth a total of $46 million, making him an unrestricted free agent by the end of the 2020-2021 regular season.
He was still playing in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Albany Devils while General Manager Lou Lamoriello made the announcement on Wednesday, January 16, 2012.
"I want to be here," Zajac said, according to ESPN. "I believe in this organization. I think it is a first-class organization. It's the environment I want to surround myself on and off the ice, and my family loves New Jersey. We like the people here. We
like living here. With all that and the players and coaching staff, I think we have a great chance here to always be successful."
The 27-year-old was picked up as the 20th overall back in round-one of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft by the New Jersey Devils and has been a part of the franchise ever since. He was a 60-plus point scorer before facing an injury, which limited him
to 15 games played and just six points (2 goals, 4 assists). He was recovering from an Achilles injury, but made a major comeback during the playoffs by potting 14 points (7 goals, 7 assists) in all 24 games played to help lead New Jersey to the Stanley Cup
Finals, which they barely lost to the Los Angeles Kings.
"I knew in my gut, I think, I wanted to be here," Zajac said. "When it came down to it, it was an easy decision."
Zajac’s new contract will be giving him $5.75 million each year, for the next eight years whether he plays in the minor or major league. It is definitely a major boost from his previous four-year, $15.55 million, which he deserved looking at his 423 games
played and 255 points (91 goals, 164 assists).
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