Devils' Travis Zajac out 4-6 months following pectoral surgery

The Devils suddenly have a big hole in the middle of their lineup.

The team announced that Travis Zajac, the Devils’ No. 1 center and longest-tenured player, would miss four to six months after undergoing surgery Thursday morning to repair a torn left pectoral muscle.

The team said the injury was suffered last week while Zajac was working out. The surgery was performed by the Devils chief medical officer Dr. Jonathan L. Glashow.

Zajac, 32, who joined the Devils in 2006, had 14 goals and 31 assists in 80 games last season, mainly centering the top line, and is the team’s most reliable defensive center, counted on heavily by coach John Hynes to take important faceoffs.

The Devils do have other veteran centers who could potentially center a top line, though Adam Henrique was used with increasing regularity as a left wing last season and Marcus Johansson, acquired from the Capitals in the offseason, was also projected to play on a wing. Veteran Brian Boyle, signed as a free agent, is more suited to a third- or fourth-line role.

Instead, Zajac’s injury may give either Nico Hischier, 18, the first overall pick in this year’s draft, or Pavel Zacha, 20, the sixth overall pick in the 2015 draft, the chance to earn top-line minutes. Zacha had eight goals and 16 assists in 70 games last season, his first in the NHL, but also was used more as a left wing later in the season.

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There’s a chance, too, that Zajac’s injury could alter general manager Ray Shero’s plans.

Prior to Zajac’s injury, Shero’s remaining offseason priority seemed to be bolstering his defense corps, including re-signing restricted free agent Damon Severson.

But with the Avalanche seemingly willing to trade their No. 1 center, Matt Duchene, perhaps Shero will be in contact with Colorado counterpart Joe Sakic.

“I will be listening to offers,” Sakic told The Denver Post on Thursday, prior to Zajac’s injury being announced. “Right now, it’s quiet on all fronts. But I’ll listen to offers on how we can get better. I’ll never name names but I’ll sit there and if something makes sense for the way we want to go with our team, we’ll really look at that.”

Of course, the Avalanche are reportedly interested in acquiring a defenseman if they trade Duchene, and Shero would be hard-pressed to make that kind of deal, especially after shipping Adam Larsson to the Oilers for top-line left wing Taylor Hall last offseason.

Zajac has been mainly injury-free in his career, playing in a team-record 401 games from Oct. 26, 2006-April 10, 2011.

Injuries, including a torn tendon, did limit him to 15 games in 2011-12, but his seven goals and seven assists in 24 playoff games helped lead the Devils to the Stanley Cup Final, which they lost in six games to the Kings.

That’s also the last time the Devils have made the playoffs, missing out the last five seasons.

Overall, Zajac has 155 goals and 280 assists in 779 career regular-season games and 10 goals and 16 assists in 52 playoff games.

E-mail: grossa@northjersey.com