The New Jersey Devils signed free agent defensemen Brett Pesce and Brenden Dillon and forward Stefan Noesen to free-agent contracts on Monday. Pesce, 29, signed a six-year, $33 million contract ($5.5 million average annual value). Dillon, 33, inked a deal worth $12 million over three years ($4 million AAV). Noesen, 31, joined the Devils for a three-year, $8.25 million contract ($2.75 million AAV). Pesce had spent his entire NHL career with the Carolina Hurricanes, who selected him in the third round of the 2013 NHL Draft. In nine seasons starting in 2015-16, he had 39 goals and 159 assists with a plus-92 rating in 627 regular-season games, along with five goals and 16 assists in 57 playoff games. Last season, Pesce recorded three goals and 10 assists in 70 regular-season games, and one assist in two postseason contests. Dillon collected eight goals and 12 assists with a plus-20 rating in 77 regular-season games last season for the Winnipeg Jets. He also had three assists in three playoff games. In 13 years for four teams, Dillon has 37 goals, 159 assists and a plus-66 rating in 892 regular-season games. He also has one goal and 14 assists with a minus-16 rating in 83 playoff games. Dillon played for the Dallas Stars (2011-2014), San Jose Sharks (2014-2020), Washington Capitals (2020-21) and Jets (2021-24). Noesen tallied career bests with 37 points, 14 goals and a plus-13-rating along with a career high-tying 23 assists in 81 regular-season games last season with Carolina. He added four goals in 11 playoff games. The 21st overall pick of the 2011 draft by the Ottawa Senators, Noesen has played for Anaheim (2014-17), New Jersey (2017-19), Pittsburgh (2019), San Jose (2019-21), Toronto (2021) and Carolina (2021-24). He has 58 goals and 69 assists with a plus-23 rating in 366 regular-season games, with nine goals and four assists in 30 postseason games. --Field Level Media
Mar 28, 2024; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Brett Pesce (22) looks on against the Detroit Red Wings during the second period at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports