Zajac signs extension with Devils- 8 years, $46 million

[ThomasTomasz]

NEWARK, N.J. -- The New Jersey Devils have re-signed Travis Zajac to a long-term deal worth $46 million over eight years, a source confirmed to ESPNNewYork.com.

Devils GM Lou Lamoriello said the Devils had previous discussions with Zajac about locking up the 27-year-old center, but could not complete the final details until the lockout ended.

"He's one of our core leaders and he has been since Day One," Lamoriello said.

Zajac's deal, which includes a no-trade clause, is a reflection of the new rules on contract limits brokered in the collective bargaining agreement, agreed to by the NHL and NHLPA earlier this month. Those rules allow teams to re-sign their own players to eight-year deals, while limiting all other long-term deals to a maximum of seven years.

Zajac will receive $3.5 million in the first year of the deal and $5 million in the second, with a $1 million bonus in each. He will make $6.5 million in seasons three through six and $5.75 million in each of the last two seasons.

Zajac, who missed the majority of last season recovering from an Achilles injury, was limited to two goals and four assists in 15 regular season games for the Devils but turned it on during the playoffs.

The former first-round pick (20th overall in 2004) registered seven goals and seven assists in 24 playoff games en route to the team's Stanley Cup finals appearance.

Zajac is one of the Devils' top forwards and a vital piece of their lineup, especially considering the departure of former captain Zach Parise, who signed with his hometown Minnesota Wild this July.

Lamoriello reiterated Wednesday that there is no way to fill Parise's absence, but that the organization must continue forward, regardless.

"You don't replace a Zach Parise," Lamoriello said. "He was an exceptional player, but you have to move on."

Zajac, who is slated to be the team's first-line center, skated on a line with Ilya Kovalchuk and Dainius Zubrus in the team's intra-squad scrimmage with their AHL affiliate club, the Albany Devils, on Wedneday.

Zajac's presence in the middle will be key for a Devils squad that will start the season without 2012 Calder Trophy finalist Adam Henrique. The 22-year-old pivot is recovering from a hand injury and, although he skated Wednesday morning, is expected to miss at least two more weeks.

http://espn.go.com/new-york/nhl/sto...vis-zajac-source-says-deal-8-years-46-million