One of the biggest defensive pieces on the open market is gone early on Monday as New Jersey has signed nine-year veteran Brett Pesce to a six-year deal worth $33.0 million ($5.5M AAV). The 29-year-old has spent his entire career with Carolina and had three goals, 13 points and a +10 plus/minus in 70 games played last year.
Kovacevic is a solid two-way defenseman and penalty-killer who appeared in 62 games with the Canadiens last season. With the Devils reportedly interested in signing a couple free agent defensemen, Kovacevic could end up serving as the No.7 entering the season.
Desimone was claimed off waivers by the Devils in January and had two points (1G / 1A) in 11 NHL games with the Devils. Prior to being waived, he had five points (1G / 4A) in 23 games with the Flames. Expect Desimone to be a sixth or seventh defenseman for the Devils in 2024-25.
New Jersey made another offseason move on Friday as they traded forward Adam Beckman for defenseman Graeme Clarke with the Minnesota Wild. The 23-year-old has appeared in 23 games sparsely across three seasons with Minnesota and had no goals, three assists, 14 PIMs and 26 shots on goal.
New Jersey made the first big splash of the offseason on Wednesday as they traded 23-year-old Kevin Bahl and their 2025 1st-round pick for goaltender Jacob Markstrom from the Calgary Flames. Calgary will retain 31.25% of Markstrom's salary as an add-on in the deal, and a nice cherry on top for New Jersey. In 48 games played in 2023-24 with the Flames, Markstrom was 23-23-2 with a 2.78 GAA AND a .905 SV%.
Pesce was a full participant in Wednesday's practice and Thursday's morning skate but skated as an "extra," and is not yet ready for game action as he will sit out Game 6 on Thursday. The 29-year-old has only been able to compete in two playoff games so far this year and has an assist, one SOG, two PIMs and a +1 plus/minus.
Halonen made his NHL debut in 2023-24 and signed a two-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 with New Jersey on Thursday. The 25-year-old undrafted left-winger appeared in two games for the Devils this season, failing to pick up a point with two SOG while averaging 8:17 TOI/GP.
Pesce was a full participant in Wednesday's practice but skated as an "extra," which suggests that he won't be available for Game 6 on Thursday. Monitor his status during Thursday's morning skate to get a concrete answer on his availability.
Legare was acquired mid-way through the season from Montreal for Arnaud Durandeau and has signed a one-year, two-way contract with New Jersey into the 2024-25 season. The 23-year-old former captain of Baie-Comeau (QMJHL) finished his third season in the AHL in 2023-24 and had eight goals, and four assists in 54 games played this season with Laval and Utica.
Willman appeared in 18 games for New Jersey in 2023-24 and had three goals and four points to go along with 17 SOG and has signed a two-way, contract extension worth $775,000 on Tuesday. The 29-year-old has appeared in 68 games across three NHL seasons and has seven goals and 10 points.
Malek was New Jersey's 2021 fourth-round pick (100th overall) and signed a two-year, entry-level contract on Monday. The 22-year-old goaltender is coming off his second season with Ilves (Liiga), where he posted an impressive 16-4-5 record, 2.32 GAA and .915 SV%.
Casey was New Jersey's 2022 fourth-round pick (46th overall) and signed a three-year, entry-level contract on Monday worth $2.85 million ($950,000AAV). The 20-year-old defenseman just finished his Sophmore campaign with the University of Michigan (NCAA), and had seven goals and 45 points in 40 games played.
Pesce has been out since Game 2 due to a lower-body injury and will miss at least the first two games of Carolina's Round 2 series vs. New York. The 29-year-old picked up an assist, one SOG, two PIMs and a +1 plus/minus through his two games played prior to his injury.
Pesce recently removed his walking boot but his status for Round 2 is still uncertain. Head coach Rod Brind'Amour said the team remains hopeful that he'll play at some point vs. the Rangers. Look for Tony DeAngelo to remain his replacement in Game 1.
Brett Pesce (lower-body injury) is out of a walking boot. If everything goes as expected, he should play games in Round 2. He may not be ready for Game 1, but the team is hoping to have him available at some point during the series. In his two playoff games before his injury, he had an assist, one SOG and two PIMs while averaging 14:18 TOI/GP.
Schmelzer is an undrafted 30-year-old who has yet to play an NHL game but has spent most of the last six seasons in the AHL. In 72 games with the Utica Comets (AHL) this season, Schmelzer recorded 52 points (18G / 34A).
Bowers was the 28th overall pick of the Ottawa Senators in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft and has been limited to only nine career NHL games. He played eight games with the Devils this season but spent most of the 2023-24 campaign in the AHL, scoring 14 points (10G / 4A) in 43 games with the Utica Comets.
Dillion did not play in game four due to a hand injury and will miss a second straight game on Tuesday night. The Jets find themselves in a 3-1 series deficit, now without Dillon, who had three assists, 12 hits, and six blocks while averaging 21:04 time-on-ice through the first three games of the series.
