Confirmed Signing with Link: [NJD] D Brett Pesce signs with the Devils (6 years, $5.5M AAV)

[canuckslover10]

The only question is can he stay healthy cause if he can this is an absolute steal for the Devils.

 

[Leafshater67]

See the @TGWL post.

I mean, I get it but they gotta keep somebody and pretty much half their team walked this free agency. There’s gotta be something going on behind the scenes.

 

[Goptor]

I have a feeling he was always going to sign near his home in the NY/NJ area. It would explain why Carolina was trying to trade him last off season and why there was never any rumor or suggestion of him returning.

The Devils also gained 2 2nd round draft picks in the defenseman shuffle so if they end up having to add that in a cap dump, they break even.

 

[lawrence]

one of the best UFA signings this year. Well done Devils.

 

[Fjordy]

Very good defense for Devils

 

[Old Boys Club]

In my viewings of him this year, albeit limited, he looked pretty bad. Slow skating, bad decisions with the puck, not an offensive threat. That was mainly reg. season; could've been injuries or something else. I don't follow comings and goings of the overall league that religiously, just chuck games on while I relax and have a moment off from work.

 

[CanadienShark]

I don't think this deal is too bad. Pair him with Hughes and if possible, move Hamilton for a top 4 defensive LHD.

XXXX - Nemec
Hughes - Pesce

That has the makings of a solid top 4.

 

[PizzaAndPucks]

In my viewings of him this year, albeit limited, he looked pretty bad. Slow skating and bad decisions with the puck. That was mainly reg. season; could've been injuries or something else. I don't follow comings and goings of the overall league that religiously, just chuck games on while I relax and have a moment off from work.

Good things most Canes fans said he will be missed big time. Not as elite as Slavin but still a way above average shutdown D man with some offense to his game (30ish points a season).

Marino will be missed but Pesce is the better of the 2 defensively albeit he is a bit more experienced.

 

[PizzaAndPucks]

I don't think this deal is too bad. Pair him with Hughes and if possible, move Hamilton for a top 4 defensive LHD.

XXXX - Nemec
Hughes - Pesce

That has the makings of a solid top 4.

Hamilton is our best offensive defensman. He isn't particularly strong defensivley but he is amazing at moving the puck and has the best shot on the team from the blueline. He isn't going anywhere. Hughes will probably play with Pesce and Hamilton will go back to being partnered with Siegenthaler.

Siegenthaler - Hamilton
Hughes - Pesce
Dillon - Nemec
Kovacevic

The defense has alot of potential. It's bit inexperienced with Hughes and Nemec both playing at the same time but it has a good mix of skill ,size & physicality.

 

[CanadienShark]

Hamilton is our best offensive defensman. He isn't particularly strong defensivley but he is amazing at moving the puck and has the best shot on the team from the blueline. He isn't going anywhere. Hughes will probably play with Pesce and Hamilton will go back to being partnered with Siegenthaler.

Siegenthaler - Hamilton
Hughes - Pesce
Dillon - Nemec
Kovacevic

The defense has alot of potential. It's bit inexperienced with Hughes and Nemec both playing at the same time but it has a good mix of skill ,size & physicality.

Definitely a good and well rounded defence there. I really just do not like Hamilton. Never have.

 

[PizzaAndPucks]

Definitely a good and well rounded defence there. I really just do not like Hamilton. Never have.

He can be a tad frustrating. He doesn't really use his size enough to throw big hits , isn't a fast skater and is a little lost in the d zone at times but he is what he is. His breakout passes , transition game , shot (slapper and wrist) and his ability to slip into soft spots in the offensive size is elite.

 

[Guttersniped]

Thought this one was an overpay. Until I just saw the Noesen deal.

This is exactly what Evolving Hockey had for Pesce and it’s less than their projection for Noesen.

If you want to complain about the Devils here, and god knows you’re dying to, then complain about the Dillon deal.

That was an overpay, Dillon benefited from the odd lack of decent LHD on the 2024 market.



@AFPAnalytics had
Pesce 5 years/6.262m
Noesen 3 years/3.201m
Dillon 2 years/2.864m

For comparison, what they actually got:
Pesce 6 years/5.5m
Noesen 3 years/2.75m
Dillon 3 years/4m

 

[TBF1972]

Have always liked him as a player. And he played in New Jersey growing up. He is the type of defenseman this team has lacked for years. Just don't see how he merits such a raise.


Just like when they signed players like Hamilton, Meier and now Markstrom and Noesen, the Devils are once again paying premiums on players based on their pasts; as a result of their inability to develop players. Just two years after rebuilding the defense corps and having a great season, the team is starting all over.

And the Devils don't have a Slavin or a coach like Brind'Amour to provide the structure.

i wonder what type of raise do you attribute to his new contract?

you probably say it's a 36% raise. but i would say it is only a 16% raise. fans calculate with the raw dollar figures. agents and gm's calculate with cap percentages.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

This is exactly what Evolving Hockey had for Pesce and it’s less than their projection for Noesen.

If you want to complain about the Devils here, and god knows you’re dying to, then complain about the Dillon deal.

That was an overpay, Dillon benefited from the odd lack of decent LHD on the 2024 market.

View attachment 891230

@AFPAnalytics had
Pesce 5 years/6.262m
Noesen 3 years/3.201m
Dillon 2 years/2.864m

For comparison, what they actually got:
Pesce 6 years/5.5m
Noesen 3 years/2.75m
Dillon 3 years/4m

Already said my piece. By the way, two that are really going to look bad are the OEL and Montour contracts. Reminds me of the Yankees in baseball or the New York Rangers seemingly forever.

Paying for what players used to be to put fans in the seats; inevitably coming up short.

 

[Big Daddy Cane]

They scored 2 of those in seconds. I'm not saying they didn't miss Pesce, but a lot of those powerplay goals were team brain farts and less because of Pesce out.

Also, Pesce was healthy for Carolina’s other end of season PK struggles. 56.3% against Tampa in 2021, 66.7% against the Rangers in 2022 and 71.4% against Florida in 2023.

A talented PP that is feeling confident will move the puck around faster than Carolina’s aggressive PK can pressure it. They’ve had the misfortune of going up against a lot of great PPs over the years.

 

[Discipline Daddy]

Pesce is a likable lad. You will love him. His brother is a gem too.

He has virtually no offensive skill. It sometimes feels like he's trying to make the bad read offensively as he waits until he doesn't have a passing lane or shooting lane and then passes or shoots. I imagine his offensive numbers are helped somewhat by our system. He just never grew that part of his game.

Defensively, Pesce is a rock. Very good net front. Very good at moving the puck out of the D zone, very good along the boards. He has little mobility, but his positioning makes him effective nonetheless. I agree with Devils fans that he is most logically paired with Luke Hughes.

 

[MasterofGrond]

If he can successfully cover for Luke’s (good and valuable) adventurism, he’s worth every penny and more. Need to empower guys to play to their strengths, and Luke was asked to do too much for much of last season.

I think Luke can and will grow the defensive parts of his game (and they’re not BAD now or anything) but when you can do what he can in transition and off the rush, you gotta find a guy to let him off the leash.

 

[CanMerc]

The money is great, but the term isn’t, but that’s to be expected on a 29 yr old player like Pesce. This will likely be his last contract to retirement, that may end in a buyout of the last year…depending on how he ages.
I’d say it’s a pretty good deal by the Devils