Stefan Noesen Providing Devils With Thriving Depth

The New Jersey Devils have begun righting their ship after finishing second-to-last in the Metropolitan Division last year. They’re now second from the top, boasting a stout 8-5-2 through the early season. That resurgence has largely been inspired by Jack Hughes and Dougie Hamilton returning to full health, and Jacob Markstrom finally bringing legitimacy to the Devils’ crease – but New Jersey has pulled one more ace from up their sleeves. Through the addition of Stefan Noesen and Paul Cotter, New Jersey has transformed a muddied bottom-six into one of the league’s best.

The impact of Noesen’s hot start can’t be understated. The Devils’ success has always been rooted in strong bottom-six glue guys – but the team has struggled to find a suitable boost after the departures of the likes of Pavel Zacha, Michael McLeod, and Yegor Sharangovich. Hot-and-cold performances from Erik Haula and Alexander Holtz spurred the team last year, but it was little momentum in the face of multiple key injuries.

Enter now Noesen, who’s had the wind behind his sails for three seasons, kicked off by a starring role with the 2021-22 Chicago Wolves. In what was the 10th season of an otherwise lackluster minor-league career, Noesen posted 48 goals and 85 points in 70 games in the regular season, then added 25 points in 18 playoff games to push Chicago all the way to the Calder Cup Championship. That championship-winning leadership earned Noesen a promotion to Chicago’s on-again-off-again affiliate the Carolina Hurricanes for 2022-23.

Noesen continued to thrive at the top flight, potting 36 points and 37 points – both career-highs – respectively across the last two seasons with the Canes. He earned nearly all of those points through hard-nosed and high-tempo drives into the low-slot, where he was able to routinely win space and bury loose pucks. That crash-the-net style is now excelling on Sheldon Keefe’s Devils, where Noesen is flanked by the gritty Cotter and the shoot-first Haula – giving him space to operate as a strong second-man-in. While Cotter – who’s own hot start is also a main factor in New Jersey’s success – fights for the puck in the corner, Noesen is able to set up camp in the slot while Haula provides high-zone coverage.

It’s a chemistry that simply makes sense. But the effects of such a well-matched line are working to peak effect while the likes of Hughes, Timo Meier, and Dawson Mercer each find their top-notch scoring once again. Noesen has 13 points through 15 games in New Jersey. Nine of those points have come at even-strength. And while that production (a 71-point pace across 82 games) likely isn’t sustainable, it’ll serve as the underpinning of New Jersey’s success this season. The Devils are still waiting for all of their engines to fire, but the third line is working to full effect – and Noesen and Cotter are quickly proving two of the most impactful new additions across the league.

Noesen signed a three-year, $8.25MM contract with New Jersey on July 1st. The deal will take him through his age-34 season – and is already looking like a steal just 15 games in. After a journeyman career that started with a first-round selection in 2011 and proceeded with trips with seven NHL teams and six AHL teams – Noesen has finally found his footing at the pro level. He’s proven a capable scorer and an even better forechecker – both traits the Devils’ depth chart was sorely lacking. Sometimes it’s best not to mess with a good thing, and New Jersey is now faced with a chance to embrace a well-constructed and ever-efficient third-line. If it holds, the trio could be the piece that propels New Jersey into a long run next summer.