SMART MOVE BY DEVILS TO SIGN ZAJAC

TRAVIS ZAJAC. NEW JERSEY

NEWARK, N.J.(AP) —Center Travis Zajac avoided salary arbitration and signed a multiyear contract with the New Jersey Devils.

“During his previous three seasons in the National Hockey League, Travis Zajac has proven to be among the top young players in the game, and has developed into one of the core players on our team,” Devils chief executive Lou Lamoriello said in announcing the signing on Wednesday.

Zajac, 24, had career highs with 20 goals and 42 assists last season, and a team-leading plus-33 mark. He played in all 82 games for the second straight season, adding a goal and three assists in the postseason.

Zajac, whose arbitration was to start later this week, has 51 goals and 87 assists in three seasons.