Travis Zajac won’t be returning to the Islanders. It turns out, the longtime Devil won’t be returning as an NHL player at all.
Zajac, 36, on Monday signed a one-day deal with the Devils and announced his retirement as an active player. He will remain in the Devils’ organization in a player development and consulting role – both on and off the ice – and also will work to grow the organization’s youth hockey initiatives in New Jersey.
The Islanders acquired Zajac and Kyle Palmieri – re-signed to a four-year, $20 million extension this offseason – from the Devils on April 7.