The Devils don’t need Brett Pesce to be flashy. They need him to be there, steady, and doing the dirty work that keeps the blue line from wobbling. That’s the assignment again heading into 2026-27, and it’s a familiar one after another season interrupted by injury.
Pesce’s 2025-26 campaign was limited to 37 games, but he still managed seven points with one goal and six assists. He opened the year on New Jersey’s roster and got through most of October before an upper-body injury on Oct. 26 knocked him out. He didn’t return until Dec. 17, and after working his way back into form, a lower-body injury on March 3 ended his season for good.
Even in a shortened year, Pesce showed exactly why the Devils value him. He blocked 80 shots in those 37 games, and that number tells the story as much as anything else: he’s willing to put his body in the way and play a physical, defense-first game. When he was healthy, he was usually stationed on the second pairing with Luke Hughes.
That same setup is the expectation again in 2026-27. Pesce and Hughes give the Devils a second pair that can handle both ends of the ice, with enough offensive push to matter and enough defensive reliability to keep things stable.
If needed, the two can also move up to the top pairing. The Devils are counting on that kind of flexibility, especially with Pesce entering the third year of his six-year deal.
The bigger issue, as it has been since he arrived as a free agent in 2024, is availability. Injuries have cut into both seasons he’s played in New Jersey. His 2024-25 year also got off to a late start because he was still recovering from the fibula fracture he suffered late in 2023-24.
There are also some milestones within reach if everything goes right. Pesce finished 2025-26 with 736 NHL games under his belt, and a full 2026-27 season would push him past 800 and up to 820.
He also ended last season with 222 career points, including 43 goals and 179 assists. Reaching 100 goals doesn’t look likely, but 21 assists could be in play.
The bold call here is simple: Pesce stays healthy for the entire season. That’s the one thing the Devils have been waiting to see. If it happens, they’ll get the veteran presence they’ve been banking on all along, and a blue line that looks a whole lot more secure.
In Other News...
Devils Camp Is Starting To Reveal Who Fits This New Standard
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Dillon has noticed the shift around camp, too, and he sees a team carrying more energy and a clearer sense of expectation after missing the playoffs last season. With the coaching staff still sorting through who fits best in which role, these early practices are starting to show which players can handle the standard the Devils want to set before the real tests begin. [Read more 🡒]
Devils Power Play Is Already Reviving A Familiar Concern
The Devils are heading into the season with plenty to like on paper, from the additions of Luke Evangelista and Anthony Mantha to the expectation that Jack Hughes will again drive the top power-play unit. For a team carrying real expectations, the man-advantage should be one of the clearest places to create separation, and the early unit outlines suggest the staff is leaning into the same star-powered formula that has defined so much of the offense.
Nico Hischier's role is part of what makes the setup interesting, because there is already a sense that the current configuration could lean too heavily on Hughes in the moments that matter most. The alternative is not about taking the puck out of Hughes' hands entirely, but about finding a way to make the power play less predictable and more efficient, which is the sort of balancing act that could matter a lot once opponents start matching up and the games get tighter. [Read more 🡒]
Seamus Casey Could Force A Tough Devils Blue Line Decision
Seamus Casey heads into a pivotal stretch with the Devils as he enters the final year of his entry-level contract and tries to earn a spot on the opening night roster. The young defenseman has already shown flashes of the offensive skill that made him worth watching, even as injuries have complicated his path and limited his runway at times.
Sunny Mehta will have some blue line sorting to do before the season begins, and Casey is part of that conversation if he stays healthy and makes his case in camp. For a team that will be weighing both immediate depth and long-term upside, his preseason performance could make this a harder decision than it first looks. [Read more 🡒]