(NOTE: All stats are prior to last night’s game in Anaheim)

When the Devils opened this season, there were some questions about how they’d fair down the middle. Not for a lack of talent, but rather who would be playing what role. Adam Henrique was coming off a 30 goal, 50 point season and was a good bet to play alongside Taylor Hall on the first line considering their time together in the OHL while Pavel Zacha and Travis Zajac would battle it out for the middle two positions. Zajac had struggled the past two seasons, tallying just 67 points and 25 goals combined while Zacha came into camp as the organization’s top prospect looking to log big minutes in a top-six role.

As it turns out, things have played out a bit differently than one may’ve expected through the first fifteen games of the season. Travis Zajac has been the Devils no. 1 center through a majority of the early part of the season with 10 points in 15 games while playing alongside Taylor Hall and P.A. Parenteau. Zajac got off to a hot start last season and cooled down as the season progressed. We know Zajac has the potential to score 50-60 points. He’s done it before, but can he sustain the pace he’s on so far?

If Zajac keeps producing at the rate he is, he’d finish with 54-55 points and 22 goals in 82 games. He’s also shooting the puck at a higher rate than he has the last two seasons. Through 15 games, he’s averaging 2.4 shots on goal a game and is on pace for 196 shots on goal, which would be the highest mark of his career. His shooting percentage is 11.1% and for his career he’s a 10.4% shooter, so he’s right on mark for where he’s been throughout his career.

Zajac’s underlying numbers at even-strength have also improved drastically through the first fifteen games of this season. As of now, he has a 55% possession mark. Through fifteen games last season, he was sitting at just 45.2% (via Corsica Hockey), a substantial improvement. His shot generation numbers are way up as well. Through fifteen games, he’s averaging 63.6 shot attempts per 60 minutes as opposed to 43.2 per 60 through fifteen games last season (via Corsica Hockey).

Zajac’s scoring rates are way up, too. Through fifteen games last season, he was averaging just 0.89 points per 60 minutes at even-strength (via Corsica Hockey). Through fifteen games this season, he’s averaging 1.80 points per 60 minutes. It’s a bit early in the season to be taking a hard look at rate stats, but as of now, all signs are positive for Zajac. When you consider his shot metrics, specifically his shot generation uptick, it’s all the more reason to be encouraged by Zajac’s play to start the season.

With Taylor Hall out for the next month of games, there’ll be more expected of Zajac. He’s without a doubt the Devils no. 1 center at the moment. P.A. Parenteau will stay along side Zajac, but it could be a mix of wingers to replace Hall. Beau Bennett impressed against Dallas and had a good showing against Anaheim, but still has nothing to show for it. Bennett has shown that he’s capable of handling big minutes on the first line. He may not have the scoring touch of Hall (not many people do), but he can certainly hold his own on the top line.

If the Devils are to keep up their winning ways, they’ll need Zajac to be the forward he’s been through the first fifteen games of the season, especially with Hall out. This team is better equipped to handle the loss of Hall than they would’ve been in previous seasons, but it starts with Zajac. His success has been a vital part of the Devils 9-4-3 start and has been a welcomed surprise for a player who had struggled over the previous two seasons.