When the signing of Stefan Noesen was announced this past summer, longtime Devils fans could be seen smiling.
Noesen has been one of the best players to start this season for New Jersey. He has seven goals and seven assists in the first 19 games played. He has been used on special teams, scored game-winning goals, played on every line, made clutch plays, and secured his role in the lineup because of his impact on every game.
Some noticeable plays he has had this season so far are:
- Game-tying goal against the Islanders, Devils go on to win in OT.
- Game-opening goal against Edmonton just minutes into the game – Devils shut out the Oilers.
- Two-goal performance against the Ducks; his second goal would be the game-winner. The Devils won 6-2.
- Scored the opening goal of the season, not just for the Devils but for the NHL, against the Buffalo Sabres. The Devils ended up winning 4-1.
There has been only one game in which the Devils have not won that Noesen has scored.
When on the ice, Stefan brings a presence the Devils have needed in recent years. Other teams know he is not afraid to drop the gloves if they go after his teammates. He will finish his checks and make you regret any mistake you make. The Devils have lacked this type of player for years, and Noesen has wasted no time making it his role.
Not only does he bring grit, a physical presence, and leadership to the lineup, but he also brings playoff experience the Devils have lacked. Only seven players on the roster have played the same number or more playoff games. With the Devils looking to be a competitive team making deep playoff runs, that playoff experience will come in handy when it’s time.
Noesen is already halfway to his career-high in goals and a little less than half of the way to his career-high in points, which is 37. Although he has only played 19 games this season, it took Noesen 81 games to read those records.
Noesen is a gritty, strong, smart player who can play up and down the lineup. He has a strong net-front presence and makes the most of his ice time, but of course, Devils fans already knew that.
In the 2017-18 season, Noesen scored an iconic goal for the Devils in Game 3 of the first round of the playoffs against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first playoff game Devils fans saw since the 2011-12 season. He was a fan favorite all season long and cemented his name in the New Jersey Devils’ history books with that goal.
After that season, his career slowly slipped as he bounced from team to team until he found himself on the Carolina Hurricanes and made a name for himself. He had two of his best seasons with the Hurricanes before he hit free agency and returned to the Devils. He signed a three-year deal with the Devils with an AAV of $2,750,000.
With only a fourth of the season under his belt, will Noesen continue this impressive play?
