New Jersey named Travis Zajac an alternate captain on Wednesday, announcing he’d rotate duties with defenseman Andy Greene.
Zajac, 28, has spent his entire professional career with the Devils since being 20th overall at the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. After missing most of the 2011-12 campaign with a torn Achilles, Zajac was rewarded for his impressive ’12 playoff run (14 points in 24 games) in January by signing an eight-year, $46 million contract extension.
While this is Zajac’s first stint as a captain in the NHL, it’s worth noting he served as an alternate on the Canadian team for the 2011 IIHF World Championships, scoring three points in seven games.
With Greene, Zajac will serve as one of two alternates (the other is Patrik Elias) under team captain Bryce Salvador.