To say that 2025-26 was disappointing for New Jersey Devils winger Stefan Noesen might be an understatement.
Returning to the Devils after spending five seasons with other teams, Noesen was brough back in prior to 2024-25 to boost the Devils depth. He had found success the two seasons prior with the Carolina Hurricanes, recording seasons of 36 and 37 points with 13 and 14 goals respectively. Upon returning to New Jersey, Noesen exploded for a career high 22 goals and would also eclipse that previous
high of 37 points by finishing with 41. While half of his goals were power play tallies, he had still managed to find a niche to contribute and supplement the Devils stars.
The expectation prior to last season was that he would bring much of the same that he brought in 2024-25. Noesen, however, struggled; his shooting percentage dropped off massively, and his power play production also dried up, leading to him not playing as much with he first unit. Not helping the fact was that Noesen started off missing training camp, the preseason and the start of the regular season due to injury, and a different injury would end his campaign in early January after 38 games. He finished 2025-26 with a paltry three goals and seven points.
As 2026-27 draws nearer, Noesen is allegedly fully healthy for the first time in a long time; he played said 38 games last season while dealing with the injury issues that would eventually shut him down for the rest of it. Noesen could be in position to shake off the rust, and earn himself a spot in the middle of the Devils’ lineup where he could once again contribute depending upon where and how Sheldon Keefe wants to deploy him. At the same time, competition on the Devils’ roster has also increased; thanks to the Jacob Markstrom trade and the signing of Anthony Mantha, the Devils now have more talent on the wings, which could result in Noesen being left out of the lineup as a healthy scratch if he’s not back to form from two seasons ago.
Noesen’s name was being floated as a trade resource if the Devils were trying to clear more cap space for other summer moves. As that does not appear to be happening, unless things change in the next weeks before camps open, expect Noesen to be in the fold and competing for a job. If (and this could be a big if at this point in his career) he has fully recovered from the injuries, Noesen could be an unexpected asset for the Devils. Think about it: everyone has written him off, and practically removed him from the team’s future plans. While he’s not a “long term future” piece, he could at least be an asset now. Noesen getting back to a mid-30/low-40 point player would alleviate some of the scoring pressure on other Devils, and could help a group that was struggling to put pucks in the net last year.
The concern has to be that Noesen doesn’t bounce back. At this point in his career, he’s probably trending downward at 33, turning 34 mid-season. It’s not “end of career old” in the NHL, but it’s definitely “decline is possible/probable old” in the league. If Noesen produces poorly as he did last season, the good news is that it is the final year of his deal and the Devils don’t need to bring him back. The bad news is that if he’s not producing, and someone else on the roster also isn’t producing, then the Devils could find themselves with a hole of sorts in the roster. If the team is to be better this season than last, they need production from all areas of their lineup; if Noesen has fallen off too far for any reason to be able to do that, then it might not even take until the end of the season for him to no longer be a Devil.
Stefan Noesen has proven he can be a point producer for the New Jersey Devils within Sheldon Keefe’s system. The question now becomes have injuries and father time deteriorated Noesen to where he is no longer that player? Or will he spring back now that he’s fully healthy to once again be a strong contributor for the Devils? With training camp and the preseason right around the corner, we might not have to wait too long to find out.
What are your thoughts on Stefan Noesen returning to the Devils’ lineup in 2026-27; do you think he has the potential to have a bounce back season? Are you worried reduced usage will affect his production negatively? Is your concern more that the injuries will have slowed him to the point where he is no longer effective? Leave any and all comments below and thanks as always for reading!
