Travis Zajac Jersey Card

I was never sold on Travis Zajac as a first-liner, though I must admit the "ZZ Pops" line(s) he was on with Zach Parise and an interchangeable cast of veterans in the role of the "pops" - including Jamie Langenbrunner, Brian Gionta, Ilya Kovalchuk and Dainius Zubrus - had a terrific moniker.

Still, we're talking about a two-time 20-goal scorer (with a high of 25 in in 2009-10) who only twice posted over 48 points in a full season (granted, both times he hit the 60 mark), despite playing with elite-level players on well-coached teams that had stellar defenses.

Over time, he developed into a reliable two-way center who kept improving in the face-off circle, particularly under the guidance of Adam Oates. He played for Team Canada at two World Championships, earning a silver medal while producing zero points in 2009, and not medaling whilst posting three points as an alternate captain in 2011, for a total production of 3 points in 12 games on the Men's National Team.

He is married to former College Hockey star and one-time captain of the New Hampshire Wildcats, Nicole Hekle, who also excelled at ringuette.

Here is Zajac wearing the New Jersey Devils' red (now-home) uniform, on card #GJ-TZ from Upper Deck's 2012-13 Series 1 collection and UD Game Jersey sub-set:

It features a white game-worn jersey swatch that blends well into the design of the card.