Travis Zajac
A rock-solid center who became the quiet, consistent heartbeat of the New Jersey Devils for over a thousand games and fifteen seasons.
Born 1985 (age 41)·Canadian ice hockey player·Birthday: May 13·Millennials
Biography
Travis Zajac's hockey story is one of understated, enduring excellence. Drafted 20th overall by the New Jersey Devils in 2004, the Winnipeg-born center didn't chase flashy headlines; he built a career on reliability and two-way intelligence. He became a fixture on the Devils' top lines, forming a particularly potent partnership with Zach Parise and Ilya Kovalchuk during the team's 2012 Stanley Cup Final run. Zajac's game was defined by faceoff prowess, defensive responsibility, and a knack for timely scoring, embodying the franchise's workmanlike identity. After 15 seasons and over 1,000 games in New Jersey, a tenure that places him among the franchise's all-time leaders in several categories, he played a final season with the New York Islanders before retiring, leaving a legacy as one of the most dependable players of his era.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Travis was born in 1985, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Travis Was Born
The biggest hits of 1985
#1 Movie
Back to the Future
Best Picture
Out of Africa
#1 TV Show
Dynasty
Travis's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1985Born
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1990Started school
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1998Became a teenager
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Could drive
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2003Could vote
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Turned 21
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2015Turned 30
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2025Turned 40
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 41 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played his entire 15-season prime with the New Jersey Devils, appearing in over 1,000 regular season games for the franchise.
- Recorded a career-high 67 points (25 goals, 42 assists) during the 2009-10 NHL season.
- Was a central figure in the Devils' 2012 playoff run, contributing 14 points in 24 games as the team reached the Stanley Cup Final.
- Won the NHL's Fastest Skater competition at the 2011 All-Star Skills Competition.
- Served as an alternate captain for the Devils for multiple seasons.
Did You Know?
His younger brother, Kelly Zajac, also played professional hockey, including a brief stint in the New Jersey Devils organization.
He played college hockey for the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux, where he was a teammate of Jonathan Toews.
Zajac and his wife gave all three of their children first names that begin with the letter 'L'.
“My job is to be reliable in both ends of the ice.”
