The New Jersey Devils are going to have to keep navigating without one of their most dependable blue-liners, as Brett Pesce remains sidelined with no immediate return in sight. Head coach Sheldon Keefe offered the latest update following the team’s 5-3 loss to the Flyers, and it wasn’t exactly what Devils fans were hoping to hear.
“I’d still put him in the weeks department,” Keefe said, referring to Pesce’s recovery timeline. “Once his hand gets going and the strength gets there, I think it’ll be pretty quick.
He’s not there yet. It’s not in the near future.”
Pesce, who last suited up in the Devils’ 4-3 overtime win against Colorado on October 26, has been dealing with a hand injury that’s kept him out of action for over a month. He’s been seen wearing a cast on his left hand and arm - a clear sign that the grip strength just isn’t there yet. And for a defenseman like Pesce, whose game relies heavily on stickhandling, passing, and physical puck battles, that’s non-negotiable.
In his absence, the Devils have turned to 2022 second-overall pick Simon Nemec - and the 19-year-old hasn’t just held his own, he’s made a legitimate case for more minutes even when the lineup is healthy. Nemec has brought poise, puck-moving ability, and a surprising level of maturity to a defense corps that’s been forced to adapt on the fly.
That said, the growing pains are real. With Dougie Hamilton also missing time, New Jersey’s blue line has been tested by deeper, more disciplined teams. And while Nemec’s emergence is a bright spot, the lack of veteran stability has shown up in the details - defensive zone coverage, puck retrievals under pressure, and managing high-danger chances.
Colton White, back in the NHL fold after a few years of bouncing between teams and leagues, has filled in capably. But Keefe has kept his minutes limited - just over 12 minutes per game - which says a lot about how much responsibility he’s being asked to shoulder.
When White is paired with someone like Brenden Dillon, who’s logging heavy minutes and doing his best to anchor the back end, the imbalance becomes more noticeable. Dillon’s experience and hockey IQ are invaluable, but he can’t cover every gap on his own.
The silver lining? Pesce’s recovery timeline may end up syncing with the expected return of Jack Hughes, who’s been out since suffering a hand injury at a team dinner on November 12. Hughes was given a six-to-eight week timetable, which puts his potential comeback right around the same window as Pesce’s.
Until then, the Devils are walking a tightrope - trying to patch together a defense that can hold up against playoff-caliber opponents while also finding ways to generate enough offense without their most dynamic forward. It’s a tough balance, but so far, they’ve managed it better than many expected.
The next few weeks will be a test of depth, coaching, and resilience. And if Nemec continues to rise to the occasion, the Devils might just come out of this stretch stronger - and deeper - than they were before the injuries hit.