Through 21 games the Devils are off to a respectable 9-9-3 start and sit just one point back of the Rangers for the 3rd and final playoff spot in the Metro Division.
That said, there is certainly room for improvement and players that need to be better if the Devils want to be playing hockey when the playoffs roll around.
Among that group of players, and probably leading the pact, is Travis Zajac.
Last season playing with Dainius Zubrus/Tuomo Ruutu/the guy from the corner store and Jaromir Jagr No. 19 was able to produce a hair less than 50 points in 80 games while driving possession at an elite rate that rivalled Jonathan Toews, Anze Kopitar and some of the very best top two-way centers in hockey.
This year Zajac's possession numbers are down, as are his shots, points and pretty much all of his other numbers.
Zajac is bringing in $5.75M and, while I still think he's played well defensively, he needs to start burying the chances he's getting.
I'm OK with Zajac contributing 50 points and elite defense (if you sift out the wingers listed at C on NHL.com he was around 30th in points and a top-10 center in terms of defense). The Devils added some offensive players in Mike Cammalleri and Martin Havlat that should be able to carry some of that load. What is not OK is producing at a 31 point clip and playing a little above average defense.
New Jersey needs some of their top guys to be better if they're going to go anywhere this season, and Zajac is front and center in that.
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