The New Jersey Devils were among the more active teams on Day 1 of NHL Free Agency. Their goal offseason was to get a little mean and nastier to play against. New Jersey did that with the signings of Brett Pesce, Brenden Dillon, and Stefan Noesen.
Along with Brett Pesce Devils will add Brenden Dillon to the back end as well. Fitzgerald was not lying when he said he was going big game hunting and revamping the D.
Also said he was going to be active today. #njdevils @FullPressNHL @myNHLTradeRumor @DevilsNationX
— Jim Biringer (@JimBiringer) July 1, 2024
The Devils were the front runners to land Brett Pesce. It became even more evident when they shipped out John Marino on Day 2 of the NHL Draft to the Utah Hockey Club. Pesce is getting a six-year deal with an annual average value of $5.5 million, while Dillon will get a three-year deal with an annual average value of $4 million.
New Jersey Devils Trade Alexander Holtz and Akira Schmid to Vegas For Paul Cotter
Brett Pesce deal with the Devils 6 years x $5.5 million AAV as @reporterchris first stated. That is a steal for what was rumored around 6x$6 million. #njdevils @FullPressNHL @myNHLTradeRumor @DevilsNationX
— Jim Biringer (@JimBiringer) July 1, 2024
Pesce and Dillon bring that physical edge that Devils President and General Manager Tom Fitzgerald had discussed heading into the offseason and most recently on TSN Radio in Toronto.
“I think knowing who you are, and not deviating from from your skill and what you do well is important. What I like to build around that absolutely, you know, get a little heavier you know, get a little edgier,” Fitzgerald said. “A little more violence would be great. But defending the net front is extremely important. It’s an area where we have to get better.”
Out with the old and in with the new. The New Jersey Devils revamped their defense by adding size to complement their speed and skill on the back end.
Pesce is 6-foot-3, 230 pounds. He is a two-way defenseman who can play in the top four, defends the rush well, kills penalties, and shuts down passing lanes. This was an area the Devils struggled with last season. Pesce gets a nice little bump in New Jersey as he made $4.025 million in Carolina.
But the Devils also added 6-foot-4, 225-pound defenseman Brenden Dillon. He plays a sound game for a defenseman of his size. He brings mean and violent to him. Dillon can play in all situations, in the top four, on the penalty kill and five-on-five.
New Jersey Devils Eyeing Brett Pesce to Improve Defense
We know the Devils already have Jonas Siegenthaler, Dougie Hamilton, Luke Hughes, and Simon Nemec. The Devils re-signed Nick DeSimone and traded for Johnathan Kovacevic from the Montreal Canadiens to complement Pesce and Dillon.
In addition, the Devils added depth to their bottom six with a reunion of sorts. New Jersey signed forward Stefan Noesen to a three-year deal worth $8.25 million. The contract carries an AAV of $2.75 million.
Heard about Stefan Noesen and the Devils as a possible reunion. It has happened three years at $2.75 million per @FriedgeHNIC. Solid deal. #njdevils @FullPressNHL @myNHLTradeRumor @DevilsNationX
— Jim Biringer (@JimBiringer) July 1, 2024
Noesen is another depth piece for the Devils’ bottom six, along with Paul Cotter, whom they acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights for Alexander Holtz and Akira Schmid. Stefan Noesen has a nose for the net and gets into the dirty areas, which was an area the Devils were lacking.
The Devils still have $6,776,103 in cap space to play with. New Jersey needs to re-sign RFA Dawson Mercer, who was extended a qualifying offer on Sunday. In addition, the Devils are still in the running for a top-six-scoring winger.
One thing is for sure: the New Jersey Devils will be tougher to play against next year.
