It's been slow, but with the hockey lockout over, I'll try to have a Devils preview finished before the Saturday night opener at the NHL Muni on Long Island.
I have two terrific interviews finished and in the inbox, so I hope to get them posted over the next week or two.
They are both excellent and one might be our best yet!
Stay tuned for those!
The New Jersey Devils decided not to risk another homegrown star bolting via free agency and signed their top center in Travis Zajac to an eight-year extension worth 46 million over the term.
Zajac would have been an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season and locking him up now enables Lou Lamoriello to either work on existing player renewals or to land a player from outside the organization.
The Devils look to be under the floor by a fair amount under the new CBA, so the money to sign or extend players (Patrik Elias and/or David Clarkson) looks to be there next summer.
Travis Zajac is a solid number one center, on other teams, he might be one of the best second liners in the game, but his passing ranks with the better centers and the Devils will need a feeder for Ilya Kovalchuk.
This signing ensures that the Devils have that and the pairing will have many years to get the chemistry down.
Zajac also is the Devils' best faceoff man, which will come in quite handy in the shortened season.
I like (not love due to the length) the deal as it keeps Devils players in the family, which I am usually in favor and Zajac gave the Devils a small discount in the contract as well.
Usually, Lou Lamoriello returns that loyalty when the player's career is over, so Zajac will likely benefit from that when playing days are past for him.
Nice start to the new CBA era for the Devils and should keep some contract locker room conversations away for the winter!
Photo Credit: Newark Star-Ledger
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