Brett Pesce

Brett Pesce

29-Year-Old DefensemanD
New Jersey Devils
2024 Fantasy Outlook
Fresh off the most disappointing season of his career, Pesce missed three weeks early in the year with a lower-body injury which required surgery and then suffered a fractured fibula in Game 2 of Carolina's first-round series win over the Islanders which ended up ending his year. All told, Pesce appeared in 70 regular-season games, managing just 13 points, the lowest total of his career. Clearly not deterred, the Devils handed Pesce a six-year, $33 million contract in free agency. The 29-year-old should serve in a second-pairing and penalty-killing role for the club, giving him next to no fantasy value in any format. Read Past Outlooks
$Signed a six-year, $33 million contract with the Devils in July of 2024.
Good to go Friday
DNew Jersey Devils
October 25, 2024
Pesce (lower leg) is expected to be in the lineup for Friday's game versus the Islanders.
ANALYSIS
Pesce was considered questionable heading into this game since he just returned from a long-term absence. However, it looks like he's good to play back-to-back days right away. Pesce should continue to see top-four usage in a mainly defensive role.
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NHL Stats
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2024–25 Time On Ice Stats
  • Average Time On Ice:
    21:25
  • Average Power Play TOI:
    0:02
  • Average Short-Handed TOI:
    2:34
 
Ice Time
Power Play
Short-Handed
2022–23
22:01
1:05
2:25
2023–24
20:17
0:08
2:20
2024–25
21:25
0:02
2:34
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Devils Power Play Depth Chart
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2023
2022
2021
2020
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2017
2016
One of the steadiest defenders in the NHL, all of Pesce's numbers from a season ago (five goals, 30 points, 144 shots on goal, 37 hits, 110 blocked shots, 22:01 average time on ice in 82 games) were right in line with what we saw from him a year prior. Pesce did average a career-high 1:05 per game with the man advantage, but that will likely go out the window with Tony DeAngelo returning to Carolina, further diminishing Pesce's already minuscule fantasy value. With one year left on his contract at a shade over $4 million, Pesce will be eligible for unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2024. This is a situation to monitor until there is a resolution one way or another.
One of the most reliable stay-at-home defenders in the NHL, Pesce was again a key cog on the blue line for the Hurricanes. Pesce played 70 regular-season games, posting seven goals and 28 points. The offensive numbers were right in line with what we have come to expect from the University of New Hampshire product. As valuable as Pesce is to Carolina, there's nothing to get excited about here from a fantasy perspective. He posts middling hit and block totals for a rearguard and there isn't enough point production to make him a realistic option in the latter stages of your draft.
Pesce had another strong campaign in 2020-21, nearly reaching his career high in points in only 55 games and remaining a plus contributor in blocked shots while setting a new career high in average ice time. The 26-year-old blueliner's rock-solid two-way play was a big part of the Hurricanes' successful season, but he could be poised to take his production to another level in 2021-22. With Dougie Hamilton now in New Jersey, there's a big hole on the Hurricanes' top power-play unit, and while Carolina did bring in Tony DeAngelo to help fill it, there's no guarantee the former Ranger even makes it onto the Opening Night roster. Pesce is one of a few defenseman in the lineup who could take advantage of a bigger offensive role if the opportunity presents itself, and he has a stable floor even if he doesn't get that chance.
Pesce is set for another year in a top-four role with the Hurricanes, but that's not likely to translate to much offense for the shutdown defenseman. He had 18 points and a plus-7 rating in 61 outings last year, regressing from his career-best 29 points and plus-35 marks from the year before. The 26-year-old Pesce is also a solid shot blocker -- his 91 last year marked the first time he's missed the century mark in that category in four years. It's defense first for Pesce, though, and fantasy managers shouldn't expect more than 15 points from the veteran rearguard in 2020-21.
Pesce established himself as an integral part of Carolina's deep defense corps last season, blowing away his previous bests in points (29) and rating (plus-35). He doesn't give you much in other categories, however, which is a problem considering his scoring rate isn't up to snuff compared to most useful fantasy blueliners and plus-minus can be extremely fickle from year to year. Just look at Pesce's own career for evidence of that -- his rating in four NHL seasons has been minus-7, plus-23, minus-6 and plus-35. There's a good chance what we saw from the 24-year-old last season was close to his ceiling, so buyer beware.
Pesce registered 19 points through 65 games in 2017-18 -- and he likely would have surpassed the 20 points he posted the previous year -- had a shoulder injury not forced him to miss the last nine games of the regular season. Pesce is under contract long-term after signing a six-year, $24 million contract extension last August, so he is set to remain part of the Canes' top shutdown defensive pairing opposite Jaccob Slavin for the foreseeable future. A healthy Pesce should deliver similar numbers in 2018-19, giving him fantasy value in deeper formats only.
In 2016-17, his sophomore season in the NHL, Pesce improved his offensive totals by four points, hitting the 20-point mark (two goals, 18 assists) while playing a full 82-game slate. Perhaps more impressively, he came to be relied upon more heavily by the coaching staff, recording an average ice time of 21:12 per game, over two minutes more than his rookie season (18:46). From a fantasy perspective, aside from being a relatively modest scorer, Pesce doesn't rank particularly well in any of the peripheral stat categories (hits, shots, PIM). Although, he did rank second on the team last year in blocked shots with 148. Looking ahead, we see Pesce occupying a similar stay-at-home role in Carolina this season.
With 16 points in his first full season with the Hurricanes, the 21-year-old Pesce had a decent campaign offensively, but more importantly, he cemented himself as a top-four defensive option, averaging almost 19 minutes per game. Unfortunately, Pesce suffered a lower-body injury that landed him on IR at the start of February and failed to put much together offensively after he returned, notching just four assists over his last 28 games. The 21-year-old will be back in a similar role with the Canes this upcoming season; however, his fantasy value remains limited to deeper formats for now.
More Fantasy News
Considered game-time decision
DNew Jersey Devils
Lower Leg
October 25, 2024
Pesce (lower leg) will be a game-time decision for Friday's matchup against the Islanders, Mike Morreale of NHL.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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Playing versus Wings
DNew Jersey Devils
October 24, 2024
Pesce (lower leg) will be in the lineup to face Detroit on Thursday, Bill Spaulding of MSG Network reports.
ANALYSIS
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Set to travel with team
DNew Jersey Devils
Lower Leg
October 23, 2024
Head coach Sheldon Keefe said Wednesday that Pesce (lower leg) will travel with the Devils ahead of Thursday's road matchup in Detroit, Devils play-by-play announcer Matt Loughlin reports.
ANALYSIS
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Nearing return
DNew Jersey Devils
Lower Leg
October 21, 2024
Pesce (lower leg) is close to making his New Jersey debut, though he won't play Tuesday against Tampa Bay, Amanda Stein of the Devils' official site reports.
ANALYSIS
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Skating Tuesday
DNew Jersey Devils
Lower Leg
October 8, 2024
Pesce (leg) is skating in a regular jersey at Tuesday's practice, Amanda Stein of the Devils' official site reports.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Linked to New Jersey
DCarolina Hurricanes
June 24, 2024
Pesce, who's recovering from a fractured fibula, is likely to sign with the Devils once free agency opens July 1, Dan Powers of Empty Netters reports.
ANALYSIS
Pesce, who just played out the final season of a six-year, $24.15 million contract, drew into 70 games with the Hurricanes in 2023-24, picking up three goals, 13 points, a plus-10 rating and 113 blocked shots while averaging 20:17 of ice time. If he ends up signing with New Jersey, Pesce will likely continue to provide meager offensive totals while seeing top-four usage with the Devils in 2024-25.
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