With Brett Pesce Out, Will the Devils Make a Move on Defense?

The New Jersey Devils are facing yet another setback when it comes to injuries, as veteran Brett Pesce is expected to miss at least a month with an upper-body injury. Head coach Sheldon Keefe confirmed the news following Sunday’s 4-3 victory over the Colorado Avalanche, noting that Pesce left the game in the first period after blocking a shot.

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Pesce’s absence is a significant blow to the Devils’ blue line that is already missing Johnathan Kovacevic due to a lingering knee injury. Their defense isn’t the only area where injuries have become a concern this season. Zack MacEwan, Evgenii Dadonov, and Cody Glass are all currently out, with goaltender Jacob Markstrom also having missed time.

Pesce, an 11-year NHL veteran, has been instrumental alongside Luke Hughes, leading the team in Goals-For percentage (80%) and Expected-Goals-For percentage (63.1%) at even strength. He averages the second-highest ice time on the team, logging 21:21 per game behind Dougie Hamilton.

What Now for the Devils?

The Devils are off to a hot start — holding an 8-1-0 record through nine games –, and the last thing the club wants is to take a step back because one of its best defenders is out. New Jersey will now look to its depth to fill the void.

Young defenseman Simon Nemec, who has impressed with seven assists in nine games, is likely to see increased minutes and could slot alongside Hughes. Dennis Cholowski, currently on the NHL roster, may also step into a nightly role. With both Kovacevic and Pesce now out long-term, having both Nemec and Seamus Casey in the lineup helps lessen the sting.

How effectively they can weather Pesce’s absence will be a key test. One thing seems clear now: any speculation that Dougie Hamilton might have been on the move in a trade will be placed on hold.

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