New Jersey Devils trade tiers - Part 2

I put each Devils defenseman into tiers based on quality of player, contract status, fit, and the likelihood of being moved.

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Earlier this week, I put each New Jersey Devils forward (under team control) in different tiers based on caliber of player, contract status, and the likelihood of being moved.

In the second and final part of this mini series, I’ll be doing the same for the defensemen.

Let’s get right to it.

Untouchable

Luke Hughes (RFA)

You’d be hard pressed to find many defensemen in the league more untouchable than Luke Hughes.

He has started his NHL career with back-to-back 44+ point campaigns and his defensive game has grown leaps and bounds in a short period of time.

With his dynamic ability on puck, elite skating, stick work, size, and reach, Hughes has the potential to be elite at both ends of the ice for a long, long, time.

Factor in one of his older brothers is the face of the Devils organization and there is no world in which Hughes goes anywhere, for any reason.

Safe as can be

Brett Pesce (remaining contract: 5 x $5.5M)

Pesce has quickly become a favorite inside the Devils organization and for good reason.

He’s a well-liked, no-maintenance guy who just goes out there and does whatever he can to help his team win.

Sheldon Keefe is a huge fan and gave Pesce more ice time per game than any other player on the roster during the regular season.

Pesce also ranked 2nd on the team in playoff ice despite fighting through injuries that stemmed from the beating he took trying to prevent goals.

The Devils have chased defensive stability for years and Pesce is someone who provides that more nights than not.

He also has a full no-trade clause until the summer of 2027, giving him full control if any trade is ever brought to his camp (spoiler: there won’t be one). He’s as untouchable as he wants to be.

Brenden Dillon (2 x $4M)

Dillon’s first year with the Devils didn’t go as well as hoped. He was on the ice for more goals against at 5v5 play than anybody else on the roster, which is generally not a good thing for a defense-first defenseman.

That said, the Devils value the experience and physical game he brings to the table and – like Pesce – he currently has a full no-trade clause.

I don’t see the Devils trying to move on from Dillon, nor do I see a deal coming about if they did.

His numbers were not good this past season, he completely controls his own fate on the trade market, and he’s coming off a scary neck injury. It’s not exactly prime time to move on.

Johnathan Kovacevic (5 x $4M)