The New Jersey Devils struggling offensive corps suffered an early season blow. Top center Travis Zajac tore his Achilles Tendon during offseason workouts and underwent surgery early this morning. Zajac had played in 401 consecutive games, so his Devils Iron Man streak will end. He is scheduled to return sometime in November from injury.
Lamoriello today said, he has no plans to sign anyone to fill in for Zajac or bring anyone in for a tryout. This likely means that Elias will start the year as the top line center with Josefson moving to the 2nd line, Steckel will move to the 3rd line and Adam Henrique will likely make the team out of camp. So, the decision to sign a center might come towards the end of training camp if their current line-up does not produce in the preseason as its capable.
The decision not to sign someone probably means that Lamoriello will not use the created $6 million dollars in cap space after the Colin White and Trent Hunter buyouts. This means that he is setting the Devils up to be buyers at the trade deadline or be very aggressive on the Free Agent Market in Summer 2012. So, with the Zajac injury the Devils projected forward line-up is:
Kovalchuk Elias Palmieri
Parise Josefson Tedenby
Zubrus Steckel Clarkson
Boulton Henrique Zharkov
Extras: Janssen, Pelley
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