After trading Bahl and sending defenseman John Marino to the Utah Hockey Club with a fifth-round pick in the 2025 draft on June 29 in exchange for a second-round pick in 2024 and 2025, the Devils bolstered their defense on July 1 by signing Brett Pesce to a six-year, $33 million contract ($5.5 million average annual value) and Brenden Dillon to a three-year, $12 million contract ($4 million AAV).
Pesce, 29, had 13 points (three goals, 10 assists) in 70 regular-season games for the Carolina Hurricanes last season and one assist in two playoff games. Dillon, 33, had 20 points (eight goals, 12 assists) in 77 regular-season games for the Winnipeg Jets last season and three assists in three playoff games.
New Jersey also brought back forwards Stefan Noesen (three-year, $8.25 million contract, July 1; $2.75 million AAV) and Tomas Tatar (one-year, $1.8 million contract, July 2), both of whom previously played for the Devils.
Noesen, 31, who played with New Jersey from 2016-19, scored 37 points (14 goals, 23 assists) in 81 regular-season games for Carolina last season and four goals in 11 playoff games. Tatar, 33, who played for the Devils from 2021-23, scored 24 points (nine goals, 15 assists) in 70 regular-season games for the Colorado Avalanche and Seattle Kraken last season.
The biggest factor for the Devils this season, however, may be the health of Jack Hughes. The 23-year-old center was sidelined twice last season for a total of 16 games with an upper-body injury before missing the final four games due to shoulder surgery. Hughes, who finished second on the Devils with 74 points (27 goals, 47 assists) in 62 games behind forward Jesper Bratt (83 points; 27 goals, 56 assists in 82 games), is expected to be in training camp.
“Anything is possible for him,” Haula said of Hughes. “He’s definitely one of the better players in the league with the puck and one of the more dangerous guys on offense. So when he’s at full strength, along with a couple of other guys who have had some issues but have worked through them, we’re ready to go.”
Haula is looking forward to new coach Sheldon Keefe trying to lead New Jersey back to the playoffs. He was hired on May 23 to replace interim coach Travis Green, who replaced the fired Lindy Ruff on March 4. Keefe, 43, was fired on May 9 after five seasons as coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs. He had a 212-97-40 record in 349 regular-season games and a 16-21 record in 37 playoff games.
“We have high aspirations,” Haula said. “The goals are there, but it starts on day one and we’ll go from there. It’s important to get off to a good start, have a good feeling about our team and get it moving in the right direction. A new coach, some new and familiar faces, I think we can do just that.”
