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50 Greatest New Jersey Devils Players Of All Time

By Nick Villano

Former New Jersey Devils players (L-R) Martin Brodeur, Scott Niedermayer, Ken Daneyko and Scott Stevens during Patrik Elias #26 jersey retirement ceremony prior to a game against the New York Islanders at the Prudential Center on February 24, 2018 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images)"n
Former New Jersey Devils players (L-R) Martin Brodeur, Scott Niedermayer, Ken Daneyko and Scott Stevens during Patrik Elias #26 jersey retirement ceremony prior to a game against the New York Islanders at the Prudential Center on February 24, 2018 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images)"n /
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Travis Zajac – New Jersey Devils (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Greatest New Jersey Devils player of all time: 11. Travis Zajac

We’re really getting into Devils royalty. Travis Zajac was a polarizing player when he was in New Jersey because of the expectations laid on him every season. Many thought he’d be the next great offensive center. That just wasn’t who he was as a player. That didn’t change the fact he was great for this franchise for a long time.

Zajac came into the league on fire. He had 42 points in his rookie season, finishing 10th in Calder Trophy voting. Two years later, he hit his offensive stride. He had 20 goals in 2008-09 and 25 goals in 2009-10. It’s no wonder Devils fans thought they had an offensive center on their hands. One would assume a 24-year-old was only going to get better offensively.

Seasons got a little strange for Zajac over the next few years. He suffered a major injury in the 2011 offseason, missing most of a special year. He returned for the playoffs and scored the pivotal goal that kept their season alive. In Game 6 of the first round against the Panthers, Zajac scored a goal in overtime to even the series at three games a piece. He finished the playoffs with 14 points and his only Stanley Cup Final appearance.

Zajac might be the next player to get his number retired. He finished his career as a crucial defensive center who could shut down the best players in the NHL on a nightly basis. While that doesn’t grab headlines, keeping Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby off the board is as important as scoring.

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