South Carolina Stingrays‘ 5th year center Kelly Zajac(19) was just returned after being recalled for just under a month to Hershey Bears.
He detonated the score sheet unlike he’s ever done through 9 AHL games scoring 4 goals and 3 assists with a +8 rating.
Almost seems a bit odd that he was reassigned back down.
In his 2nd stint with the Stingrays, he could have arrived at a better time as the team pushes for a playoff berth.
The strong skating forward has a team leading 36 assists and a 2nd 46 points.
When he first joined the squad late season after short stints in Finland’s Liiga with Lukko and Manitoba Moose, he got right to work.
He was a point per game performer in 2015/2016 through the remainder of the regular calendar, then continued to take it up a notch in the playoffs potting 3 goals and 15 assists in 19 match ups with another +8.
The 28-year old will click off another year over the summer but with his current outstanding performance in two of the top leagues, it will be a bit of a stunner to see him continue in the ECHL unless there’s future thinking after hockey entering the picture.
Kelly Zajac(11) Albany Devils
Albany Devils‘ undrafted 2nd year center Kelly Zajac(11) is making a statement on the score sheet in his sophomore season with the team.
After being sidelined for a majority of his rookie year with a nagging lower body injury, limiting him to only 14 games (2 goals, 2 assists), he returned for 2013/2014 healthy and ready to contribute.
Appearing in 46 AHL games, he’s easily posted career highs with 8 goals, 22 assists and a +5 rating on a squad that’s poised to make a playoff run for the first time in a long while.
The not exactly huge 5’11” 175 lbs. forward was a point-per-game guy in his last two campaigns of college hockey at Union, helping them win the 2012 NCAA (ECAC) Championship.
He’s only been signed to a pair of 1-year minor league contracts but is definitely making a bid to get noticed and move up.
The 25-year old spent parts of his first season in the ECHL with Trenton Titans, most of the time to likely get some games under his belt, and was able to produce at a rate of 6 goals and 10 assists in 15 contests in the lower league.
He may not be sure where he will end up under a deal for his next campaign but should be able to score a training camp invite to show the higher ups what he can do.