Hurricanes Reveal Update on Brett Pesce Status Ahead of 2nd Round

He hasn't played since Game 2 of the Carolina Hurricanes first-round series with the New York Islanders, and while Brett Pesce is no longer in a walking boot and has progressed in his recovery, the Canes have announced that he has not made the trip to the Big Apple for the first two games of their second-round with the New York Rangers.

Rod Brind'Amour says Brett Pesce (lower-body injury) will not travel with the team to New York today.

Not a huge surprise, but you can scratch him as an option for Games 1 & 2. pic.twitter.com/uIglrP2uHL
— Walt Ruff (@WaltRuff) May 4, 2024

It is expected that Pesce will be able to return at some point in the series, however, with hope that it could be perhaps when the team returns home for Games 3 and 4 back in Raleigh.

The shutdown d-man was injured on a non-contact play back in Game 2 against the Islanders.

Tony DeAngelo, however, will be ready to return to the lineup for Game 1 vs. the Rangers, and will take Pesce's spot once again on the second pairing with Brady Skjei. DeAngelo and Skjei have paired well together when needed this season.

Pesce played 70 games for the Canes, and was once again a rock on defense, registering 13 points with a +10 rating and 113 blocked shots in just over 20 minutes average time on ice per game.

The 29-year-old will be one of the top unrestricted free agent defensemen on the market this summer, and the Hurricanes will have some tough choices to make as they face a whole slew of UFA and RFA decisions.