The Devils made the move many around the team had been expecting for a while: Stefan Noesen is on waivers.
The 33-year-old forward was placed there Thursday afternoon, a day that appears aimed at clearing the path for Johnathan Kovacevic’s return from injured reserve. New Jersey can use the move to create the roster flexibility it needs while also getting a little breathing room under the cap.
Noesen suited up for both of the Devils’ first two games this season and did not record a point in about 15 minutes of total ice time. His 2024-25 season was also cut short after 38 games because of injury.
If he clears waivers, the Devils can bury $1.225 of his $2.75 million salary in the minors. That would help them with cap space and allow Kovacevic to come off IR without forcing Jonas Siegenthaler, who was recently not seriously injured, into the same designation.
That scenario would leave New Jersey with the roster structure many expected before opening night: 13 forwards, seven defensemen and three goalies.
Still, Noesen is the kind of player who could draw real interest. He is not just a depth body; he has nearly 500 NHL games and 175 points on his resume. Two seasons ago, he showed he can be productive when put in the right spot, and even after the knee injury, his value has been tied to the same thing that made him useful before - doing damage around the net.
That showed up in 2024-25, when his 22 goals came mostly from his ability to be a difficult player to deal with in front of the crease. The injury may have taken a step off his game, especially in terms of foot speed and acceleration, but that net-front role still makes him appealing.
A team looking for NHL help and a power-play presence around the crease could make a claim, with the Chicago Blackhawks and Vancouver Canucks mentioned as possible fits.
If no one claims him, New Jersey gets at least $1.225 million in cap relief. If he is claimed, the Devils clear the full $2.75 million from their books, which would give them even more room to work with moving forward.
In Other News...
Devils Suddenly Face A Bigger Blue Line Decision Than Expected
The Devils were already managing a stretched blue line with Johnny Kovacevic and Seamus Casey sidelined, and now Jonas Siegenthaler may be dealing with another injury after a recent game. That kind of hit to the back end can force a team to move quickly, especially when the alternatives are either reaching down to the AHL or looking outside the organization for help.
Simon Edvinsson has emerged as one of the names worth watching if New Jersey decides it needs a more serious answer, though nothing has been confirmed and any trade idea comes with obvious complications. For a team trying to hold together its defense in the short term while protecting its bigger picture, the next move may say a lot about how aggressively the Devils want to solve this problem. [Read more 🡒]
Devils Already Face A Goalie Question They May Need To Answer Soon
The Devils have already found themselves sorting through the early layers of their goaltending plan, with the current waiver claim sitting in the third-string role while Jake Allen and Nico Daws have handled the net with mixed results. With the schedule beginning to demand more from the position, the team is weighing whether a fresh look is needed soon, especially if it wants to manage workload and steady the position before it becomes a larger issue.
Poirier has drawn attention for what he showed in the American Hockey League, and there is a belief he can eventually settle into the NHL game as well. For New Jersey, the question is less about long-term upside than timing, because a start or two could offer both rest for the main goaltenders and a chance to see whether the next option can help sharpen the teams overall performance. [Read more 🡒]
Stefan Noesen's Devils Slide Just Reached A Tough New Low
Stefan Noesens season has taken another difficult turn, with the Devils now trying to sort through his place on a roster that has given him less and less room as injuries and declining production have chipped away at his role. The veteran forward has been a familiar depth option for New Jersey, but recent seasons have made it harder for him to stick in the lineup the way he once could.
At the same time, the Devils are also juggling their blue line after Jonas Siegenthaler was sent for an injury evaluation, leaving the team thinner on defense ahead of Saturdays game. It adds another layer of concern to a stretch where New Jersey is trying to manage its roster carefully, and it leaves the club with one more personnel question to answer before the schedule moves on. [Read more 🡒]