When the New Jersey Devils have needed him most, Brenden Dillon has been light’s out.
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With Brett Pesce sidelined by injury, the Devils have leaned heavily on their blue line depth—and Spittin’ Chiclets co-host Pasha Eshghi says no one has answered the call louder than Dillon, who underwent major neck surgery in the offseason.
“Yeah, honestly, I feel like he’s moving better. I feel like his puck skills have improved. I feel like he’s improved in every aspect,” Eshghi told Devils reporter James Nichols. “I mean, he’s always been a nail gun. You know that he’s always going to eat pucks, he’s going to hit guys, he’s going to fight—that part of his game has been consistent.”
But this season, Dillon has added new dimensions. He’s scored two goals and six points through 16 games thus far, and although those numbers don’t pop off the page, but that puts him on pace for career-highs in goals (10) and points (31) in hi 15-year career.
“I’ve been really impressed with just sort of the vision, the mobility, the playmaking, the patience at the blue line with some of his plays,” Eshghi continued.
The context makes it even more remarkable. There were whispers when Dillon was injured in the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs last spring. There was a growing sense that Dillon’s injury could end his career.
However, he was determined to get back on the ice, and become stronger than ever.
Mission accomplished.
“Especially since the guy’s coming off neck surgery this summer, right? I mean, there were whispers that his career might be over last year after the injury—it was kind of a freak injury. So, to see him have that surgery, the same one [Jack] Eichel had, and bounce back…”
It certainly would have been understandable had Dillon come into 2025-26 slow out of the gate. An operation on the neck is certainly delicate, and for a man of Dillon’s stature, he plays a huge game.
In fact, you saw that when he threw a monster hit on Tommy Novak last week against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Dillon is good for a few of those a year, and he’s not afraid to drop the mitts and defend himself when necessary. He did all of the above on Saturday.
“If he had come into the season and wasn’t really up to snuff, people would have been like, ‘Okay, the guy’s coming off neck surgery, let’s cut him some slack.’ But, you know, he’s actually been improved and looks amazing,” Eshghi points out.
With Pesce out, Dillon’s resurgence couldn’t be more timely. The whole right side has been decimated, especially after Dougie Hamilton suffered a minor injury as well.
Yet, Dillon’s presence has kept the Devils’ blueline afloat, with the help of Simon Nemec who he skates alongside.
“Credit to [Dillon], and it’s been huge. Like we said, with injuries, we need everyone to be at the top of their game, so it’s been great to see.”
Dillon isn’t just surviving post-surgery—he’s thriving, and filling a critical void while the blueline recovers. Had he not stepped up this strong, the Devils could be in much worse shape. Instead, they remain atop the Metropolitan Division.
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