Devils Lose Brett Pesce for at Least One Month After Upper-Body Injury

The New Jersey Devils, holding an 8-1-0 record and riding an eight-game winning streak, will be without defenseman Brett Pesce for at least one month after he suffered an upper-body injury during Sunday’s win against the Colorado Avalanche. The injury occurred with 5:21 remaining in the first period after he blocked a shot from Brent Burns. Earlier in the period, he took a high stick from Martin Necas, in what became a bruising first period for the defenseman. Head coach Sheldon Keefe confirmed the injury and timeline, and Pesce did not travel for the Devils’ five-game West Coast trip, which runs through November 2.

Pesce, 30, signed with New Jersey in July on a six-year, $33 million contract carrying a $5.5 million cap hit after nine seasons with the Carolina Hurricanes. He had recorded three points this season after finishing last year with eight points in 14 games. His pairing with Luke Hughes ranked 14th in scoring-chance percentage, establishing him as a core part of New Jersey’s early-season blue-line structure.

Sportsbooks responded to the injury ahead of Tuesday’s rematch against Colorado. Major operators priced the Devils as underdogs, with the Avalanche closing between -155 and -180 and New Jersey between +130 and +150, with a 6.5 total. Betting splits leaned toward Colorado, signaling larger wagers backing the Avalanche before puck drop. The Devils ultimately lost that game 8-4, reinforcing the pre-game market direction. Futures boards remained steady, with one major sportsbook moving New Jersey’s Stanley Cup odds from +1800 at opening to approximately +1300, reflecting continued long-term confidence despite injuries. Jack Hughes, who entered the season as a high-profile Hart Trophy candidate, currently holds mid-board MVP pricing across multiple books after being listed near +2700 in preseason tracking.

To fill the roster gap, the Devils recalled Seamus Casey, a 21-year-old right-shot defenseman and 46th overall pick in 2022. Casey played 14 games last season, recording eight points, including four goals, and will skate alongside Brenden Dillon in his season debut. With Pesce out, Simon Nemec, drafted second overall, carries additional responsibility on the blue line.

New Jersey also placed Cody Glass on injured reserve with a lower-body issue and activated Juho Lammikko, who is set to make his Devils debut after signing as a free agent in the offseason. In goal, Jacob Markstrom returned after missing six games due to a lower-body injury. He entered Tuesday with a 2-2-1 record, a 3.89 goals-against average, and an .845 save percentage.

Colorado arrived at the rematch with a 5-1-4 record after falling to the Devils 4-3 in overtime on Sunday. Jack Hughes continues to pace New Jersey’s offense with 12 points through nine games, including seven goals and two assists in his previous five contests, and was recognized among the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending October 26.