Devils honor Zajac in pregame puck drop ceremony

Retired forward played 1,024 games for New Jersey, fourth most in team history

WPG@NJD: Zajac takes one last face off for Devils

By Anna Kulesa
@akulesa_ NHL.com Staff Writer

The New Jersey Devils gave Travis Zajac a final sendoff Thursday.

The former Devils forward took part in a pregame puck drop ceremony prior to the Devils matchup against the Winnipeg Jets Thursday. Zajac's wife, Nicole, and his three kids Zenon, Veronika and Anya dropped the ceremonial puck between Zajac and Jets captain Blake Wheeler.

Zajac signed a one-day contract in September to retire as a member of the Devils.
"I feel grateful for the past 15 years, but also excited about the future," Zajac told
the Devils website
. "I'm ready for the next chapter in my life. I made some great friendships that will last forever; I made some great memories that I'll cherish for the rest of my life."
Before the special puck drop ceremony, Zajac took the ice one last time to cheering fans at Prudential Center.

Zajac spent 15 seasons with New Jersey and played 1,024 games, the fourth most in Devils history, behind only Ken Daneyko (1,283), Martin Brodeur (1,259) and Patrik Elias (1,240).

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