New Jersey Devils 2026-27 Player Projections: Brett Pesce

2025-26 Performance
Expectations for 2026-27
Upcoming Career Milestones
Projections for 2026-27
Other Projections

The New Jersey Devils are facing a ton of pressure heading into the 2026-27 season. They have a strong team, but last season, they crumbled and missed the postseason after a solid start. The Devils are determined not to let that happen again.

Each player has a role to fill, and as we gear up for the season, we can start predicting how each player will perform as we continue our Devils’ player projections, now looking at the defense. Next up is Brett Pesce.

2025-26 Performance

Pesce played in 37 games in 2025-26, recording seven points via one goal and six assists. He made the Devils opening night roster and played for the majority of October, but he unfortunately suffered an upper-body injury on Oct. 26. It wasn’t until Dec. 17 that Pesce made his return to the ice. He remained strong until March 3, when he suffered a lower-body injury, which kept him out for the remainder of the season.

Brett Pesce New Jersey Devils — Brett Pesce, New Jersey Devils (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)

Despite the fact that Pesce only played in 37 games in 2025-26, he blocked 80 shots. He is consistently putting his body on the line for his team, playing a more physical game. When he was on the ice, he was often on the second defense pairing, alongside Luke Hughes.

Expectations for 2026-27

Pesce’s expectations for 2026-27 are the same as he had in 2025-26: keep the blue line solid. Provided he can stay healthy for the full season, the Devils will continue to count on him to solidify the second defense pairing.

His skills, combined with Hughes’ on the second pairing, add an offensive threat while also providing excellent defense. He and Hughes can also flex to the top defense pairing if necessary. Pesce and Hughes are both incredible defensive talents, and they will be expected to be a benefit to the Devils’ blue line.

Pesce is entering the third year of his six-year contract with the Devils. After signing such a large contract with the team, the expectation for him to remain steady and healthy is even higher.

Upcoming Career Milestones

At the conclusion of the 2025-26 season, Pesce had played in a total of 736 NHL games. If he remains healthy for the entirety of the 2026-27 season, Pesce will surpass his 800th NHL game and reach a total of 820 NHL games. This would be a great accomplishment for him, and all hopes are that he can achieve this with the Devils this season.

Pesce closed out the 2025-26 season with a total of 222 NHL points. He has 43 goals and 179 assists to his name. The likelihood of him reaching 100 goals this season isn’t high, but 21 assists is something he could potentially achieve.

Projections for 2026-27

My bold prediction for Pesce is that he will stay healthy for the entirety of the 2026-27 season. Since joining the Devils as a free agent in 2024, injuries have interrupted both of his seasons with the team. Pesce’s 2024-25 season had a late start since he was injured late in the 2023-24 season and was still recovering from his fibula fracture.

Pesce has shown he is capable of being a great presence on the Devils’ blue line. He is a fantastic veteran presence on the Devils’ defense. As long as he can stay healthy, he will be a major benefit to keeping it strong heading into the 2026-27 season.