BREAKING: NEW YORK RANGERS LAND STAR DEFENSEMAN  ON FIVE-YEAR DEAL TO BOLSTER BLUE LINE FOR CUP RUN….SEE MORE…..

The New York Rangers continued their aggressive offseason by locking in one of the most reliable defensemen on the free agent market: Brett Pesce.

Pesce, 29, has signed a five-year, $27.5 million contract with the Rangers, the team confirmed Wednesday morning. Long viewed as one of the NHL’s most dependable shutdown defenders, Pesce now joins a loaded roster with Stanley Cup expectations and immediately strengthens New York’s top-four on the blue line.

The former Carolina Hurricanes alternate captain brings a reputation for tough minutes, calm puck movement, and elite penalty killing. In 2023–24, Pesce tallied 4 goals and 18 assists in 70 games, but his value has never been tied to the scoresheet — it’s his ability to defend against top lines, block shots, and log 20+ minutes a night that made him one of the most coveted defensemen available.

“This is the kind of signing that wins playoff games,” said Rangers GM Chris Drury. “Brett is smart, physical, and battle-tested. He plays the right way and makes everyone around him better.”

Pesce, a former third-round pick of Carolina in 2013, had spent his entire career with the Hurricanes, growing into a core piece of their defensive identity. His decision to leave Carolina was unexpected — but his choice of New York signals that he wants to compete for a Cup right now.

“This team is built to win, and I want to help push them over the top,” Pesce said. “To play in a city like this, with this kind of talent and passion — it’s an incredible opportunity.”

Pesce is expected to slide into a pairing with K’Andre Miller or possibly complement Jacob Trouba, giving New York balance, depth, and a lethal mix of physicality and skating ability on the back end. His addition also relieves pressure on Adam Fox, the team’s top offensive defenseman, by giving the Rangers a dedicated shutdown presence.

Head coach Peter Laviolette praised Pesce’s consistency and toughness: “He’s the kind of player you trust in every situation — last minute of a game, big PKs, tough matchups. He plays with heart and intelligence.”

The signing also shores up a unit that struggled at times with defensive zone turnovers and overreliance on offensive push from the blue line. Pesce’s style — steady, simple, and smart — is exactly what the Rangers needed to stabilize things behind their high-octane forwards.

Fans welcomed the move enthusiastically, with hashtags like #PesceInBlue, #RangersDefenseLocked, and #CupBoundNYR trending within an hour of the announcement.

As the Rangers gear up for another playoff run, the message from the front office is clear: this team is not standing still.

“We’re here to win now,” Pesce said. “I can’t wait to get started at Madison Square Garden.”