Devils confident after going through ‘punch list’ of needed changes | NHL.com

“I’m just anxious and excited to get going,” Pesce said. “I know how good this team is; played them in the playoffs two years ago. They have some high-end forwards who do things you just can’t teach. They’re young and the future’s bright. Obviously I wouldn’t sign anywhere I didn’t think I had a chance to win a Cup.”

Dillon, a 33-year-old left-handed shot, signed a three-year, $12 million contract ($4 million AAV). He’ll provide an authoritative presence on the back end, something the unit lacked last season when it allowed 3.43 goals per game, tied for 26th in the League, along with having the seventh-fewest hits and fourth-fewest blocked shots.

“I think for those high-end players like Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt … you want these guys to feel comfortable and want them to feel like they can be those competitive, tenacious guys,” Dillon said. “I think when you got a Kurtis MacDermid, Brenden Dillon, Brett Pesce, and guys up and down the lineup who are going to make it known that we’ve got their back. We’re going to make it known that playing the Devils isn’t going to be an easy night and that can be infectious.”

Dillon had 241 hits last season with the Winnipeg Jets, third among NHL defensemen. Since entering the League in 2011-12, Dillon ranks third among defensemen and 11th among all players in hits (2,174) in 892 games.

Noesen, who previously played three seasons with New Jersey (2016-19), signed a three-year, $8.25 million contract ($2.75 million AAV). Tatar, who spent two seasons with the Devils (2021-23), signed a one-year, $1.8 million contract.

“My game is obviously not the fastest, as you know, but I like to make up for that with my hockey sense, my physical play, getting down low and getting pucks back for all these guys,” Noesen said. “The one thing I learned under [Carolina coach] Rod Brind’Amour is the more stress you put on the other team, the better chance they have to turn the puck over and create chances the other way. You don’t always necessarily have to have the puck if you can check and forecheck the right way … you will get the puck back and then you can kind of take over from there and dominate.”