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With absolutely nothing happening in the hockey world right now, and for the foreseeable future, I’ve decided to take the plunge and write player profiles for each member of the New Jersey Devils.
As was the case when I did them last summer, we’ll be looking at the season they just put together and expectations moving forward.
I’ve written up seven players thus far, with Pavel Zacha being the most recent.
Today we’re going with Travis Zajac.
Counting stats: 69 games played, 25 points (nine goals, 16 assists), 17:06 average time on ice
5v5 underlyings: 1.26 points/60, +1.15 CF% Rel, -5.60 GF% Rel, +0.01 xGF% Rel, 96.7 PDO
2019-20 review: After a surprisingly strong offensive season in 2018-19, Zajac came crashing back down to earth this year. He produced just 25 points in 69 games, which is not even a 30-point pace over 82 games. He averaged 1.26 points per 60 at 5v5, a far cry from the 1.70 he averaged in 2018-19. Zajac also recorded primary assists at the lowest rate (.27 per 60) since his rookie year way back in 2007-08.
It was no coincidence Zajac’s offensive totals plummeted across the board. He averaged fewer attempts, shots on goal, and chances per 60 minutes than in any other season of his career.
He didn’t score nine goals because he couldn’t convert on his opportunities (he shot 12.5%!). He scored nine goals because he couldn’t generate opportunities.
It wasn’t all bad for Zajac, though. He centered Blake Coleman and Nikita Gusev on what was the team’s best line for at least a couple of months. It’s fair to say the wingers drove the line – particularly in the offensive zone – but he did his part in the defensive zone.
That mostly held true regardless of his linemates. Though Zajac is not what he once was, his defensive numbers were mostly in line with the team despite the fact he often drew the tough assignments.
It’s also worth noting his penalty killing numbers were fantastic. The Devils were better with him on the PK than without, and it is a high bar to clear (their PK metrics are mostly high-end).
Zajac’s offensive ability is very clearly deteriorating but he can still handle himself in the defensive zone.
Fun fact(s): The Devils allowed fewer shot attempts/60 with Zajac on the ice than any other forward while shorthanded. That’s impressive considering No. 19 also took on the toughest workload; no Devils forward spent more ice (total or per game) killing penalties than Zajac.
2020-21 outlook: Zajac will be part of the team. He doesn’t want to go anywhere and he has final say. It’s as simple as that.
As for the role he plays, I think it’ll be similar. His days as a regular on the PP are over. So are his days as a top-6 forward, provided Jack Hughes can step up and handle 2C minutes (even if they’re cushy).
Zajac will serve as a bottom-6 defensive center who can be sacrificed to make life easier on Nico Hischier and Hughes. Simply put, Zajac is a player coaches trust. Regardless of who is behind the bench, I think Zajac is a guy who will be relied upon to play in difficult defensive situations. And it’s justifiable; at least for now.
You want Nico and the top line in at least semi-favorable situations. Hughes much more so. Somebody has to do some of the dirty work, and Zajac is a good bet for that.
Assuming the Devils don’t want Pavel Zacha on the 4th line, I like the idea of Zacha and Zajac playing together on a defensive line at even-strength.
I also imagine Zajac will continue on as an ace penalty killer. The results he garnered this season certainly suggest he should.
numbers via naturalstattrick.com and hockey-reference.com
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