PuckSleuthCap hit
$5.5M
5.3% of $104M cap
Term
4 yrs
Through 2029-30, then UFA
Clause
NTC
Surplus value
−$1.682M
vs. $3.818M market estimate
Confirmed by the public signing announcement · source
2026-27 regular season
GP
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
0 primary
Points
0
0.00 per game
TOI/GP
19:32
PP 0:00 · PK 0:43
xGF%
68.8
5v5, +18.9 vs. last yr
Game Score
+0.22
per game, goals above average
Faceoff %
—
Plus/minus
+2
Blocks 0 · Hits 0
Game log
Last 5 games · NHL API
| Game | G | A | SOG | HIT | BLK | TOI | PP | PK | FO | OZS% | GV | TK | +/- | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1 vs PHI · W 3-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19:32 | 0:00 | 0:43 | — | 67 | 2 | 1 | +2 | +0.22 |
| Mar 3 vs FLA · W 5-1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 22:04 | 0:00 | 2:44 | — | 50 | 1 | 0 | +1 | -0.10 |
| Feb 28 @ STL · W 3-1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 18:21 | 0:00 | 2:17 | — | 60 | 2 | 1 | 0 | +0.62 |
| Feb 26 @ PIT · L 4-1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 19:53 | 0:07 | 3:24 | — | 60 | 1 | 0 | -1 | +0.04 |
| Feb 25 vs BUF · L 2-1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 18:50 | 0:01 | 3:31 | — | 25 | 0 | 1 | -2 | -0.10 |
GS = our Game Score, goals above average. FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.
Advanced metrics
5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 608 min · percentile vs. NHL defensemen
57th percentile
65th percentile
22nd percentile
75th percentile
72nd percentile
77th percentile
6th percentile
85th percentile
50th percentile
52nd percentile
20th percentile
89th percentile
5th percentile
79th percentile
xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.
Play styleAggressive puck-moving defenseman
Trait percentiles vs. NHL defensemen · 2025-26
Pesce is a elite transition player who controls the puck and creates rush chances at an elite level, but he prioritizes zone entries over defensive responsibility and struggles to keep up with today's faster game.
- Shooting volume
- 43
- Playmaking
- 49
- Zone entries(est.)
- 94
- Forechecking
- 66
- Physicality
- 54
- Defensive impact
- 36
- Puck management
- 99
- Speed
- 21
Where he shoots from
Slot 14% · Mid-range 15% · Perimeter 71%(65 unblocked shots)
Strengths
- 99th percentile puck management, controlling play through transitions
- 94th percentile rush chances, pushing tempo offensively
- Elite perimeter shooting range, 71% of unblocked shots from distance
Watch-outs
- Only 21st percentile speed limits his ability to recover on defense
- 36th percentile defensive impact suggests positioning gaps or effort concerns
- 43rd percentile shooting volume, selective with attempts despite volume opportunities
Similar style: Rasmus Ristolainen (PHI), Johnathan Kovacevic
Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.
Where his Game Score comes from
2025-26 · 37 GP · goals above average
Season total -1.0 goals, or -0.03 per game.
- Even strength offense
- +0.4
- Even strength defense
- -0.4
- Penalty kill
- +0.1
- Finishing
- -1.1
- Playmaking
- -0.5
- Penalties
- +0.6
Game Score adds up a player's impact in goals compared with an average player given the same ice time: his share of expected goals for and against at even strength, on the power play, and on the penalty kill, plus finishing (goals minus expected goals), primary assists, penalties drawn and taken, and faceoffs. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.
By season
Regular season
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | P | +/- | SOG | TOI/GP | FO% | GS/GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | NJD | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +2 | 0 | 19:32 | — | +0.22 |
| 2025-26 | NJD | 37 | 1 | 6 | 7 | -11 | 45 | 20:18 | — | -0.03 |
| 2024-25 | NJD | 72 | 3 | 14 | 17 | -5 | 99 | 21:19 | — | -0.01 |
| 2023-24 | CAR | 70 | 3 | 10 | 13 | +10 | 107 | 20:17 | — | -0.04 |
| 2022-23 | CAR | 82 | 5 | 25 | 30 | +11 | 144 | 22:01 | — | +0.03 |
Sentiment & chatter
Fans
—
Beat writers
—
Media
—
Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.
Age curve
NHL defensemen · production index
At 31, defensemen typically produce 86% of their peak (age 24). His contract runs through age 34, when the typical level is 71%.
From 24 seasons of NHL results, adjusted for league scoring and save percentage in each era. Shaded bars are the seasons left on his contract.
Skating · NHL EDGE
2025-26, as of Oct 2
- Top speed
- 20.9 mph
- 25th pct
- 20+ mph bursts
- 8
- Hardest shot
- 82.9 mph
- 17th pct
- Distance
- 99.8 mi
- OZ time
- 39.7%
- 20th pct
- DZ time
- 42.2%