The Carolina Hurricanes have indicated their intention to re-sign defenseman Brett Pesci, whose contract is set to expire at the end of the 2023-24 season, according to Pierre Lebrun from TSN. Pesce has also indicated that he would like to play his entire career in Carolina. is without“I’ve only been here my whole career, but even just talking to the guys coming in, we seem to get what’s right here. The weather, the community, the team, the coaching staff, everything. It’s just an incredible place.”
With all that said, for some reason, there is talk that a contract extension with the Hurricanes may not be a guarantee and if there are complications in completing the deal, Pesce may be on the move.
LeBrun indicated in a recent TSN Insider trading segment that if contract negotiations fail, the Hurricanes are willing to explore trade options in order to secure the highest possible return for Pesce over the coming summer. Pesce is currently in the final year of a six-year contract he signed in 2017, which carries a value cap of $4.025 million for the 2022-23 season and does not include any commercial protection.
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The Buffalo Sabers have emerged as a team that is showing interest in acquiring the talented defenseman. Lance Lisowski From Buffalo News reported that the Sabers are actively working on contract extensions with their franchises, defenseman Rasmus Dahlin and prospective Owen Power. While no agreements have been reached yet, there is a sense of optimism that deals will be finalized, although it remains uncertain whether they will be completed before they can be formally signed in a couple of weeks. Pesce fits well into that group, giving the Sabers a solid foursome as they strive to compete for the playoffs.
Darren Dreger also mentioned that the Edmonton Oilers have expressed interest in Pesce as they look to bolster their defensive lineup with four defensive tackles. He would likely be willing to transfer Cody Ceci, Warren Foegele or Kailer Yamamoto, however Dreger hints that GM Ken Holland might see Pesce as a nice upgrade. Without a move by one of these three players, the Oeters are unlikely to compete as they face financial constraints and lack enough room for a salary cap.
If the Hurricanes decide to part ways with Brett Besek, they will likely seek their best six forwards in return.
Oilers have other needs, too
In addition to serving their defensive needs, Dreger noted that the Oilers are also in the market for a competitive lead at a reasonable price, and that likely includes players like Connor Brown. Their need in the future, coupled with the fact that they don’t already have a top six forward looking to trade, means they may not be an ideal trading partner.
It should be noted that Jacob Slaven and Brent Burns are currently the only defensemen under contract for the Hurricanes for the 2024-25 season, indicating the potential impact of Pesci’s departure on the depth of the blue line.
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