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Devils’ Zajac out 4-6 months after pectoral surgery

Philadelphia Flyers v New Jersey Devils

NEWARK, NJ - MARCH 16: Travis Zajac #19 of the New Jersey Devils in action against the Philadelphia Flyers on March 16, 2017 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils defeated the Flyers 6-2. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

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As much as the New Jersey Devils have made gains in trading for Taylor Hall and Marcus Johansson, they’ll still need some familiar faces to fight their way out of the cellar.

It looks almost certain* that they’ll begin the 2017-18 season without one common fixture, as the Devils announced that Travis Zajac will miss about four-to-six months after undergoing surgery on his left pectoral muscle.

The injury occurred during Zajac’s off-season training; the Devils didn’t share exactly how that occurred, though.

Zajac, 32, has generally been quite sturdy for the Devils. He played in 80 games in 2016-17, collecting 45 points. He also appeared in 80 games in 2013-14 while playing 74 in both 2014-15 and 2015-16. He also played all 82 games for four straight seasons early in his career, so this must be frustrating for the veteran center.

* - Yes, four-to-six months would mean missing a significant chunk of the regular season ... but sometimes hockey players make downright shocking recoveries. Just saying.