Travis Zajac Subject trade rumors

Apparently, former Fighting Sioux forward Travis Zajac is the subject of trade rumors.

Per Travis Yost of TSN:

This past weekend, rumours swirled about Toronto's alleged interest in New Jersey Devils centre Travis Zajac. The connection here is obvious. Zajac, a former first-round pick in 2004, was drafted and developed by none other than new Leafs general manager Lou Lamoriello.

For a team mostly devoid of talent right now, it's understandable why the beggars-can't-be-choosers crowd fanned the flames of this trade rumor. The Leafs have a huge hole down the middle of the lineup, and Zajac's been, at the very least, a pillar of stability for a New Jersey team venturing into a rebuild.

That's perhaps the only defensible point of this proposed trade. For starters, I can't see how Zajac fits into Toronto's plans either – he's a 30+ veteran with a massive contract, both in terms of average annual value ($5.75 million) and dollars owed ($28.75 million) through the 2020 season.

Pierre McGuire interviews Devils forward Travis Zajac

NBC's Pierre McGuire interviews New Jersey Devils forward Travis Zajac. The Former UND forward gives the University of North Dakota  hockey team some love going into the Frozen Four.

New Jersey's Ilya Kovalchuk retires from the NHL at age 30

New insider? "@AngelinaLawton: Guess I was 7 months early on this secret :) #kovalchuk @NHL @NHLDevils pic.twitter.com/tWeIpErkZc”
— Nick Kypreos (@RealKyper) July 11, 2013

As announced today, the Devils forward Ilya Kovalchuk retired from the NHL leaving the New Jersey Devils holding the bag. I am thankful that I don't have  Ilya Kovalchuk in a keeper fantasy hockey league.

NHL.COM --- Kovalchuk's departure frees up more than $6 million in salary-cap space for the Devils, allowing the club to be more active in free agency. But the Devils will have to pay between $250,000 and $300,000 per year in cap-benefit recapture fees for each of the next dozen years.

"Right now we just have to take a step back to go forward," Lamoriello said. 'We'll just have to re-evaluate what our options are and do the best we can, but we'll be ready to play when September comes."

Kovalchuk leaves the NHL after 11 seasons; he had 417 goals and 399 assists for 816 points in 816 games. After being taken by the Atlanta Thrashers with the first pick in the 2001 NHL Draft, Kovalchuk had 29 goals as a rookie in 2001-02. He scored at least 30 goals in each of the next nine seasons, including six in a row with at least 40 from 2002-03 to 2009-10.

With Ilya Kovalchuk departure, the Devils free up six million dollars that that they can use to go after a forward to take Kovalchuk's place, of course forwards like that don't grown on trees. With the departure of Kovalchuk, former Fighting Sioux forward Travis Zajac is now the top paid forward with the Devils. The Devils also have about 10 million dollars to work with under the cap. Kovalchuck is now going to play for SKA in the KHL.

UND: what could have been

New Jersey Devils (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Now that the NHL is back in full swing, a few young players are starting to make their NHL debut with their clubs. Some of the names are kind of familiar. There are two that might stick out for North Dakota Hockey fans.

During the last two seasons, the University of North Dakota Hockey team had two highly coveted recruits (J.T. Miller and Stefan Matteau) decommit from the team and decide to go a different route.

Obviously, UND fans were a little miffed at these two young men for changing their mind and going a different route.

While I was disappointed at first, that neither of these two kids honored their commitment, I am not longer upset about it. Here’s why. Neither of these kids would’ve been here that long anyways, and in the long run it ended up working out for the best anyways.

In August, right before the 2011-12 season, J.T. Miller decommitted from UND, and signed a signed with the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League. Miller’s decommit put UND in a precarious situation. Without Miller, UND immediately became a different type of team.

Because Miller changed his mind at the last minute, UND wasn’t able to just go get another player of Miller’s skill set. Players like that aren’t just a dime a dozen.

In response to the last minute defection, UND picked up a walk-on recruit named Connor Gaarder from the Coulee region Chill of the NAHL.

In 61 games with the Plymouth Whalers, Miller scored (25g-37a—62) and after his season with the Whalers was over, Miller played in eight games during the Calder Cup playoffs for the Connecticut Whale of the AHL.

This past week, Miller was called up to the New York Rangers and scored during last night’s game against the New York Islanders. Miller scored the first two goals of his NHL career leading the Rangers to a 4-1 victory.

In retrospect, Miller would have been at UND for a single season, while losing him last summer was as setback and he would have been a great addition to UND’s depleted lineup. UND found a way to win without him.

Last January, USDT U18 recruit Stefan Matteau, who had originally committed to play at the University of North Dakota, decommitted from UND, and decided to play for the Blainville-Boisbraind Armada of theQuebec Major Junior Hockey League.

This was the second high profile player in as many years to decomitt from UND and go to the Canadian Hockey League.

Of course the UND fan base was upset. But UND nation was not alone; these defections have also happened to the University of Michigan and Miami University as well.

Matteau had a strong start to the season with the Armada (18g-10a—28pts) in 35 games and was invited to the New Jersey Devils camp once the NHL lockout was settled and has started the season.

Matteau ended up playing in the Devils first five games of the season before being a healthy scratch for the next four games in a row.

The New Jersey Devils could have sent Matteau back to Blainville-Boisbraind, but instead he remained with the New Jersey Devils and last night he was skating on a line with former Fighting Sioux forward Travis Zajac and Ilya Kovalchuk to start the game.

Looking back, I think it’s safe to say that Matteau is another player that wouldn’t have been here very long, in the end his decommitment to UND might not be such a bad thing.

During a recent UND hockey media day, I had a conversation with someone about the makeup of the current North Dakota hockey roster and how it could have looked if these two players had actually made it to North Dakota. It’s something to think about.

Cross Posted at the Hockey Writers Combine... 

Travis Zajac's new deal.

Former Fighting Sioux forward and current New Jersey Devil Travis Zajac is the first player to sign a big contract under the new CBA.

Here is the break down of the deal:
2013-14 $3.5 million (includes $1 million in signing bonus)
2014-15 $5 million (includes $1 million in signing bonus)
2015-16 $6.5 million
2016-17 $6.5 million
2017-18 $6.5 million
2018-19 $6.5 million
2019-20 $5.75 million
2020-21 $5.75 million

Ouch! Alec Martinez hit on Travis Zajac

This was a hard legal hit by former Miami RedHawk and current Los Angeles Kings defenseman Alex Martinez put a monstrous hit on former Fighting Sioux and current New Jersey Devils forward Travis Zajac during the 05:22 mark of the second period. I think it's going to be safe to say that both teams are going to take a couple of day to heal after this series is over.

Parise finally scores after six game drought

The sound you heard was a sigh of relief from New Jersey Devils forward Zach Parise has he scored his first goal in six games for the New Jersey Devils.

That being said, it's not just Parise that has found the sledding to be tough, the New Jersey Devils top forward line of Zach Parise (1g-0a-1pts), Travis Zajac (0g-2a-2pts) and Ilya Kovalchuk (1g-0a-1pts) has been stymied by the Los Angeles Kings and the Devils top line has scored a grand total of two goals and two assist for four points between the three of them during the Stanley Cup Finals. Kovalchuck's goal was a empty net goal at the end of game four to keep the Devils hopes of extending the series alive.

Rich Chere, The Star-Ledger --- Devils captain Zach Parise ended his goal-scoring drought in the Stanley Cup finals when he scored his first goal against the Kings and first in six games going back to the Eastern Conference finals.

But he got help from Kings goalie Jonathan Quick, who shot the puck off the end boards to Parise at the right post. Parise beat Drew Doughty to the puck and scored inside the post.

“I made a not-so-great pass across the ice. I wasn't looking,” Parise explained. “I just saw Quick go out of the net. Just went on the normal forecheck route that I've gone on a thousand times this year. He just happened to misplay it and put it on my stick. You got to get lucky sometimes.”

If the New Jersey Devils are going to extend the series and send it back to Newark, New Jersey for a game seven the Devils top line is going to have to  become a factor on the score sheet. The Devils top line is going to have to make some space and break through the Kings defense and get behind the Kings defenders.

The record favors the Devils as they have a 10-1 record in games 4, 5, 6 and 7.  They also have future Hall of Fame goalie in Martin Brodeur who has won three Stanley Cups (1995, 2000, 2003) and seems to be getting better as the series goes along and you have to think that Marty is saving the best for the last series of the season.

Parise and Zajac never played together at UND

NJ.COM

This seems to be a common historical point of discussion – but incorrect – while it’s true that Zach Parise and Travis Zajac both played their collegiate hockey for the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux – Parise and Zajac never played together. It never happened; this could be cleared up by doing a simple search on Google. So it would be impossible for them to have developed chemistry at UND.

Parise was a member of the Fighting Sioux hockey team from 2002-04, Zajac arrived at UND in the fall of 2004 and played two season at UND as well, 2004-2006.

Larry Wigge --- Travis Zajac and Zach Parise go together like two peas in a pod.

They are center and winger, both from the University of North Dakota. Both worked well together there, so why not in the NHL. They feed off one another.

Zajac is the straw that stirs the drink and prefers to stay in the background to Parise's star status.

The secret is out, Zajac is a star too.

For much of the 2011-12 season, Zajac was a lost man ... a player without a team.

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• Parise and Zajac never played together at UND

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Then there were two - Devils and Kings

There will be at least one former Fighting Sioux hockey players name on the Stanley Cup this season.

From the Eastern Conference Champion - Zach Parise and Travis Zajac's Devils will play the Western Conference Champion and Matt Greene's Los Angeles Kings in the Stanley Cup Finals starting on  Wednesday Night.

Zach Parise - Because It's The Cup

This was a commercial that I saw on the NHL Network tonight, it was the first time that I had seen it. Former Fighting Sioux forwards Zach Parise and Travis Zajac are one win away from putting three former Fighting Sioux players in the Stanley Cup Finals. Also, when the Stanley Cup is presented after the cup clinching game, an "American" Captain will accept the Stanley Cup.

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Fighting Sioux own the night in Devils win

NBCSN ice level announcer/personality Pierre McGuire couldn't seem to say it enough as he kept mentioning the two outstanding players from Grand Forks, ND. While Zach Parise (2002-04) and Travis Zajac (2004-06) are former Fighting Sioux Hockey players - they never played hockey together during their time at UND. Parise left UND in 2004 after playing two season for the Fighting Sioux. Shortly there after, Zajac arrived at UND in the fall of 2004 and played two season for the Fighting Sioux as well before joining Parise in New Jersey.

That historical fact doesn't seem to matter as both players seem to have a good chemistry on the ice together as the two former Fighting Sioux forwards frustrated the New York Rangers and led the way for the New Jersey Devils beating them 4-1, Parise was named the game first star and (2g-1a—3pts). 

The empty net goal by Parise at end of the game was a thing of beauty as well as the puck appeared to have a bit of English on it and curved into the net to ice the New York Rangers.

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• Video: Parise and Zajac fatten Devils' lead

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A couple of nice goals - Kreider and Zajac

Here are a couple of great goals to prepare us for game seven between the Boston Bruins and the Washington Capitals. This is the first career NHL goal of former Boston College Eagles Chris Kreider, who is now a member of the New York Rangers. The box score read - Chris Kreider (1) Wrist - ASST: Derek. Stepan (2) AND Mark. Staal (1)... Nice to see two former Division I college hockey players leaving their mark on the score sheet.



While I am not a fan of the New Jersey Devils, however as a Fighting Sioux hockey fan this line in the box score makes me happy - Travis Zajac score his third goal of the NHL -playoffs with an assist from Kovalchuk and former Fighting Sioux star forward Zach Parise. Congrats to the former Sioux hockey players that helped the New Jersey Devils extend the Devils season.

Zajac doing light skating

Image by clydeorama via FlickrThis might be good news for the New Jersey Devils, Travis Zajac is a valued member of the New Jersey Devils and had been pretty durable up until this injury. In fact if you look at his Hockey Database page you will see that he has only missed two games in five season before this year.

NJ.COM --- Travis Zajac, who has missed the entire season so far with a torn left Achilles' tendon, is at practice today, having flown into New Jersey over the weekend to tend to some "personal business'' he said. The Devils top center said he skated lightly for the first time on Thursday at home in Winnipeg and will skate again this week after he returns to Winnipeg.

Zajac, who suffered the injury during an off-ice training session over the summer, said he "definitely'' will play this season, but he has no idea when that might be. He said he doesn't have pain as much as tightness that restricts his movements. He said skating was actually easier than walking, because the skate boot provides more support than his normal shoes. He said now that he has skated, he anticipates being able to skate more often -- more than once a week.

Best forward line in the NHL?

Check out this forward line for the New Jersey Devils. I predict that is going to be one of the top lines in the NHL this season. Travis Zajac is an up and coming stars in the NHL and Zach Parise is establishing himself as one of the top American forwards in the NHL. This line combination will have Devils fans licking their chops. Last season Parise and Zajac finished 1st and 2nd overall in the Devils scoring, Kovalchuk was picked up in a trade from Atlanta on 02/04/2010 and added 27 points in 27 games (10g-17a-27pts).

MacLean opened training camp yesterday by assembling what could be one of the great lines in hockey, putting Kovalchuk on right wing with Zach Parise on the left and Travis Zajac in the middle.

"To play with those two guys, I'd play in goal," Kovalchuk said. "That's my first experience [as a right wing]. Hopefully it's a good one."

Part of Kovalchuk's success has been his ability to play the off-wing, a righty on the left, where speed affords better-angle shots.
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"Thinking all summer of the different combinations you could have, we'll see what they can do," MacLean said. "There's definitely enough pucks."

"I didn't see it coming," Parise said. "I was assuming he'd be playing left wing, so it was a nice surprise.

"Hopefully, it will give us some time to develop chemistry among the three of us. I don't think anyone's reading anything into it. But it would be a fun line if we did play like that."

Parise said he teased Zajac that he "might not get 100 shots this year."

"He may have 100 assists," MacLean countered. [Read more]

Where does Wheeler compare?

The Bruins blog asks the question, 'how does former Minnesota Gopher and Boston Bruins RFA Blake Wheeler compare to other players taken in the 2004 draft.' First comparison is former Fighting Sioux hockey player Travis Zajac. I actually didn't know that Blake Wheeler had six more points in his first two season in the NHL. Wheeler's total (45-38=83 points) compared to Travis Zajac who went (42-34=77). However, I don't see Wheeler getting 62 points playing in the Boston Bruins line up next season, just a hunch.

First you rule out the extreme cases of guys who really cashed in on their second contract. Travis Zajac spent two years playing NCAA hockey, and after entering the NHL at 21 saw his point totals go from 42 to 34 to 62. That earned him a four-year extension worth an average of a little more than $3.887 million per season. As a centerman, his contributions are automatically more valued, and then he sky-rocketed from supporting player to leading man just in time for his entry-level contract to expire.

The Bruins blog also looked at former Fighting Sioux and current Buffalo Sabres forward Drew Stafford and Wheeler and Stafford had the same exact amount of points their first two season in the NHL.

That brings us to two players whose production and compensation are more in line with Wheeler should receive. Buffalo’s Drew Stafford played three years of college like Wheeler, and in his first three full NHL seasons produced 38, 45 and 34 points. After that second full season, he worked out a two-year deal worth $1.9 million per season.

Senators paste Devils and move on

Another game that lack High Lites

If there had been any highlights in this game I would have posted them.
Sen's and Devils Lows Lites

I made a bold prediction earlier the year right before the Stanley Cup Playoffs that there would be another Fighting Sioux hockey player to have his name engraved on the on the Stanley Cup. That prediction took a serious hit with the New Jersey Devils losing in the second round to the Ottawa Senators, as Zach Parise's and Travis Zajac's team was enliminated.

Actually when the second round of the playoffs began I would have bet a great deal of money in Vegas that the Senators would go down to in 5 or 6 games to the New Jersey Devils. Seriously, the Senators had Ray Emery a unproven playoff goalies facing off against basically one of the best playoff goalies in NHL history, right behind Patrick Roy in my opinion. Funny thing happened Broudeur looked average and Ray Emery faced little if any tough shots.

Whey the Reversal?

The Senators beat the Devils at their own game. The Senators lined up at the blue line and made it impossible to get inside the Senators defensive zone. The Senators also cashed in on New Jerseys turnovers. The bigges problem I see with Devils is they don't have that feared defensemen they once had anymore the Devils also aren't as physical as they used to be; The Devils no longer have Kenny Daneko or Scott Stevens no longer patrol the blue line. If I was a offensive player playing against the Devils I am not going to fear Paul Martin Richard Matvichuk, Andy Greene, Brian Rafalski. I know that I can get in front of Martin Brodeur without getting my head knocked off. The Senators spent all day in front of Brodeur and they didn't pay for it.

Goalie Tired?

Martin Brodeur had another allstar season. Check out these numbers Brodeur played in 78 out of a possible 82 season games logging 4697 minutes winning 48 games and suffering 23 loses with a gaa of 2.18 and a save percentage of .922. Those are phenominal numbers. They guy also played in basically 95% of his teams games. That is too much for a guy that is 34 years old.

NJ Devils Picture


Parise Named to Team USA
Article

newjerseydevils.com – Zach Parise has been named to the 2007 U.S. Men’s National Team, USA Hockey announced today.

Team USA faces Finland this Thursday in the quarterfinal round of the 2007 International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship in Moscow, Russia.

This season, Parise set career-highs in goals (31), assists (31) and points (62) while playing in all 82 regular-season games with the Devils. He added 10 points (7g, 3a) in 11 games during the 2007 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Parise will be making his second IIHF World Championship appearance, having recorded two assists in three games with the U.S. Men’s National Team in 2005.

Parise has previously won gold medals with the U.S. National Under-18 Team at the 2002 IIHF World Under-18 Championship and the U.S. National Junior Team at the 2004 IIHF World Junior Championship. He also competed with Team USA at the 2003 IIHF World Junior Championship.

Zach Parise's pre-game Interview Before game 2.

I have alway thought that Zach Parise was good interview, not only does the kid have skills on the ice but he is smooth with the mike in front of him.

Travis Zajac and his post game interview as he talks about the game winning goal in the second overtime.

J.P. Parise talks about his son Zach Check out the video of Zach 31st goal of the season. Sweet Goal.

Jamie Langenbrunner's 2nd OT Goal

Game two Devils and Senators. Zajac assists on the Game Winner

The 2007 Stanley Cup playoffs have been nothing short than phenomenal; with each game there has been more non-stop action, it’s hard to even leave the room for fear that you miss another great play. While I have never been a Devils fan, I did catch myself cheering for them last night as they played the Senators. Last night. The goal at the end of the first period was unbelievable and wouldn’t you know it that the coach of the Ottawa Senators Brian Murray was complaining about the timekeeper being slow to start the clock. Actually Brian Murray has done a lot of whinning during the NHL playoffs this season. Well, the goal was reviewed by the league office in Toronto; their ruling on the play was that it a a good goal… Count it; and with out question I agree that goal should have counted.

The thing I thought was most interesting about this game was Martin Brodeur was wearing all new goalie pads for this game. According to the television announcers Marty scrapped his goalie equipment after the game one loss. Apparently Marty has ten sets of pads and decided to wear a new pair of leg pad that only had been worn 10 times. Of Course true to form Brodeur and wins the game for the Devils. No Fighting Sioux hockey players scored goals last night but Travis Zajac did assist on the winning goal. Whew, the Devils needed that game to stay in it. Now all they have to do is win one game in Ottawa.

Devils and Sens Game 1.

This wasn't the game I thought it was going to be. The Sens get four goals in the first period and it looked like they were going to run the Devils out of the Building, this was the first time since 2001 playoffs that Brodeur gives up that many goals in one period during the playoffs.

Watch Danney Heatley's goal, he injures his ankle on the play you can see it when he celebrates the goal with his team mates. Zach Parise was huge in this game as he got a goal and an assist during the games. In fact the Four Devils goals were scored by former college hockey players: Parise and Zajac UND, Gionta B.C. and Andy Greene Miami.

Look for the Devils to come out in game team like a wounder animal fighting for its life.

Check out this Horrible call on Zajac

Are you kidding me, the ref incorrectly gave Travis Zajac a diving call on his failed break away attempt, I probably would have given Zajac a penalty shot if had been officating the game . Are you kidding me? The ref should get a day off for that bad call. I understand why the league is trying to crack down on diving because there is a lot of it in the game of hockey. In the NCAA Robbie Earl made an art out of diving to try and draw penalties.