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Two players, including Zajac, refuse to be traded out of New Jersey!
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Two players, including Zajac, refuse to be traded out of New Jersey!

​Really? Don’t they want to win?

HockeyFeed

HockeyFeed

Nothing seems to be certain in New Jersey… Ever since Ray Shero got fired, Tom Fitzgerald took over as interim general manager and has a lot to do ahead of the trade deadline. 

However, one thing seems sure: Fitzgerald met with Devils veterans Travis Zajac and Andy Greene who have no interest in leaving the team as the deadline approaches. 

Zajac, who is signed through next season at a $5.75 million, knows he could be a hot commodity on the market, but prefers to stay put. 

“I know there’s obviously teams calling. For me, it’s just … I want to be here,” Zajac said to The Athletic . “I want to be in Jersey. I think we’ve got a good young group. Like I’ve said from the beginning, we’re going to mature and we’re going to be a really good team.

“I have had a meeting with Fitzy. I really believe in what he wants to do with this team and where he sees it going and what he feels my value and role are going forward. There’s a lot of things that go into it. I think I came out of (the meeting) even more wanting to be here. Part of it is we’ve got a good coaching staff right now. I feel like I’m a guy who can still be here and help the young guys, especially our two young centers who are going to be faces of the franchise for years to come. So, that’s where I’m at.”

As for Green, who is in his 14th season with the Devils and fifth as team captain, he might be more open to a trade though it will depend on what happens next in the Devils’ front office. 

“It’s tough right now because there are so many factors that go into this, right?” Greene said. “Like, what if … who knows if Fitzy gets the GM job or someone else does? What if a new guy comes in and wants to do his thing, and you’re not part of that? That’s fine. That’s his right. That’s his job. At the same time, you don’t want to be sitting here and not knowing what is going to happen. It’s a unique situation. There’s a lot of factors, so you have to prepare and if a decision does have to be made, you know it isn’t just a spur of the moment thing.”

The Devils sit second-last in the Eastern Conference, 18 points back of a playoff spot.

While Green might be thinking about it, it seems like Zajac won’t move for now. 

But at the trade deadline, we all know anything can happen. 

Source: The Athletic