Zajac's faceoff ability continued to improve. He credited Assistant Coach Adam Oates, considered one of the premier faceoff men of his era, with the improvement. Following the firing of MacLean and the trading of captain Langenbrunner, the Devils found themselves playing better under returning Head Coach Jacques Lemaire. Zajac snapped a five-game pointless streak, and shortly thereafter scored a short-handed goal and added three assists in just three games. Finding consistency on a line with Kovalchuk and rookie Nick Palmieri, his offense improved; during a 20-game streak, he scored five goals and added 11 assists. On March 15, Zajac tied Ken Daneyko's team record for consecutive games played (388); he broke the record the following game against Ottawa. Although the Devils did not qualify for the 2011 playoffs, Zajac won the team's Unsung Hero award. On April 24, 2012, Zajac scored his second career overtime goal against the Florida Panthers in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, to force a Game 7, which the Devils also won in double Overtime. On January 16, 2013, Zajac re-signed with the Devils, committing to an eight-year, $46 million contract. On March 31, 2014, he recorded his first career hat-trick against Florida Panthers. While the 2017–18 season brought the Devils back to the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since 2012, Zajac played his fewest games since the 2012–13 season due to a pectoral injury. On February 21, 2021, during a game against the Washington Capitals, Zajac played his 1,000th career game for the Devils. On March 30, 2021, during a game against the Boston Bruins, Zajac scored his 200th career goal. New York Islanders (2021) During the pandemic-delayed 2020–21 season, while in the final season of his eight-year contract and his 15th season within the Devils organization, on April 7, 2021, Zajac was traded to the New York Islanders along with Kyle Palmieri, in exchange for a first-round pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, a conditional 2022 fourth-round pick, and forwards A. J. Greer and Mason Jobst. Zajac became an unrestricted free agent on July 28, 2021. Retirement On September 20, 2021, Zajac signed a one-day contract to retire with the Devils. Zajac was honored during a Devils game against the Winnipeg Jets on March 10, 2022 for playing 1,000 games with the team, where he also performed a ceremonial puck drop. International play Zajac was a member of Team