Photo: Inside The Rink
The New Jersey Devils signed unrestricted free agent right-handed defenseman Brett Pesce to a five-year contract that will carry a $5.5 million cap hit and left-handed blueliner Brenden Dillon to a three-year contract that comes with a $4 million cap charge after the market opened on Monday.
Pesce, 29, earned three goals, 13 points, a +10 rating, .5836 five-on-five Corsi-for percentage (38th overall league wide), .5477 five-on-five expected goals-for percentage, and .5745 five-on-five scoring chances-for percentage in 70 regular-season games with the Carolina Hurricanes last season, when he averaged 20:17 per game (fourth among Carolina defensemen), including 2:20 while shorthanded (second) on the the NHL’s best penalty kill (.864 efficiency). Pesce played just two postseason games due to a lower-body injury, notching one assist.
In 627 career regular-season games, Pesce has tallied 39 goals, 198 points, and a +92 rating. He also has collected five goals, 21 points, and a +2 rating in 57 postseason outings.
Dillon, 33, tallied a career-high eight goals, 20 points, career-best +20 rating, .4904 five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, .4929 five-on-five expected goals-for percentage, and .4872 five-on-five scoring chances-for percentage in 77 regular-season games before notching three assists in three games during the Winnipeg Jets’ five-game exit in the first round to the Colorado Avalanche. Dillon averaged 18:44 per game (fourth among Jets blueliners), including 2:14 on the penalty kill (second), on a Winnipeg defense that co-led the NHL with an average of 2.41 goals-against per game.
Dillon has recorded 37 goals, 196 points, and a +66 rating in 892 career regular-season games with Winnipeg, the Dallas Stars, San Jose Sharks, and Washington Capitals. Though he has tallied just a goal, 15 points, and a -16 rating in 83 career postseason games, Dillon helped San Jose reach the 2016 Stanley Cup Final.
New Jersey, who finished 10 points behind the Washington Capitals for the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference in 2023-24, upgrades their blueline after their average of 3.43 goals-against per game tied the Montreal Canadiens for 26th in the NHL and .807 penalty-killing rate was tied with the Pittsburgh Penguins for 10th. They have missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs in five of the last six and 10 of the past 12 seasons.
The Devils cleared room to add Pesce and Dillon after trading John Marino to the Utah Hockey Club on Saturday.
New Jersey, who acquired goaltender Jacob Markstrom from the Calgary Flames on June 19, has $10,292,770 in salary cap space with eight forwards, seven defensemen, and two goaltenders locked in for this season at the moment. Right-wing Dawson Mercer became a restricted free agent on Monday afternoon.
Meanwhile, Carolina, who also saw Jake Guentzel (seven-year contract, $9 million cap hit with Tampa Bay Lightning) and Teuvo Teravainen (three-year contract, $5.4 million cap hit with Chicago Blackhawks) leave Raleigh on Monday, was dealt tremendous blows to their infamously strong defensive corps, which helped the team finish fourth with a 2.57 goals-against per game. Skjei ranked second among Hurricanes defenseman with an average of 21:17 per game, including 59 seconds on the power play (third) and 2:12 on the penalty kill (fourth).
The Hurricanes could also trade restricted free agent center Martin Necas (who requested a move) and needs to re-sign right-wing Seth Jarvis, who also became a restricted free agent at 12 noon ET on Monday. Carolina, who finished three points behind the New York Rangers for the Metropolitan Division crown and fell to them in six games during the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, currently has $23,874,167 left in salary cap space with 10 forwards, six defensemen, and three goaltenders under contract for the 2024-25 season.
By Harrison Brown
