Devils Sign Brett Pesce, Brenden Dillon

10:44 a.m.: It’s a three-year deal for Dillon, CHEK’s Rick Dhaliwal reports. NJ.com’s Ryan Novozinsky confirms it carries a $4MM cap hit.

9:17 a.m.: The Devils are expected to agree to terms on a deal for UFA defenseman Brett Pesce, according to Chris Johnston of The Athletic, who reports that the top-four stalwart will ink a six-year, $33MM contract ($5.5MM cap hit). They’re also expected to add veteran left-shot blue liner Brenden Dillon, reports ESPN’s Kevin Weekes.

There had been rumblings leading up to free agency that Pesce was the Devils’ top target on the back end, and it appears they’re getting their man. It was clear they were gearing up for a move, especially on the right side, after they traded away John Marino and his $4.4MM cap hit to Utah on Saturday. The Maple Leafs and Predators were also expected to be top suitors for Pesce, but the former likely took themselves out of the picture after acquiring the signing rights to Chris Tanev from the Stars.

Pesce, 29, has been a top-four fixture for the Hurricanes for nearly a decade. The 2013 third-round pick made his first splash in the NHL just two years later, spending one season in a bottom-pairing role for Carolina before consistently establishing himself as a 20-minute-muncher in his sophomore campaign. Pesce has finished in the top 20 in Norris Trophy voting on two occasions (2019 and 2021) and has firmly established himself as one of the steadier shutdown threats in the league.

He’s coming off somewhat of a down year offensively with 13 points in 70 games, but also received his lowest usage (20:17 per game) since 2019, with the Canes running one of the deepest defenses in the league. In New Jersey, he replaces Marino as the primary right-shot option behind Dougie Hamilton. He’ll anchor second-pairing minutes in the Garden State, potentially alongside 2024 Calder Trophy finalist Luke Hughes.

The Devils now also look to land a solid veteran presence in Dillon, although it’s not clear how long he’ll stick around with no contract terms reported yet. Now 33, Dillon had spent the last three seasons with the Jets, where he accumulated 63 points and a +38 rating in 238 games (with 235 PIMs to boot). He’s not quite the minute-muncher Pesce is, but still has mobility into top-four roles for the time being. with Jonas Siegenthaler and second-year blue liner Simon Nemec also in the picture, the Devils’ defense for next season is likely now set. They also added additional depth in a trade with the Canadiens yesterday, picking up Johnathan Kovacevic.

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