New Jersey Devils forward Stefan Noesen answers four random questions for The Hockey News.
New Jersey Devils forward Stefan Noesen answers four random questions for The Hockey News.
New Jersey Devils forward Stefan Noesen has been on a journey since he was drafted 21st overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. He has played over 400 NHL games for the Devils, Carolina Hurricanes, Anaheim Ducks, San Jose Sharks, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Toronto Maple Leafs.
After the team's Sunday afternoon practice, The Hockey News sat down with Noesen at his stall for a mini Q&A, where he opened up about his love for the game, career trajectory, and more.
The Hockey News: Lisa Kudrow has publicly spoken about how it took a few years to settle into her Friends character, Phoebe Buffay. Did it take time to settle in, understand what it means to be an NHL player, and find your identity?
Stefan Noesen: What a reference number one. That's pretty good.
Finding your game and finding what makes you good in this league is hard. You got to find some sort of a niche. Not everyone is as skilled as Jack (Hughes) or could go out there and defend as well as (Brenden) Dillon and (Brett) Pesce.
You have to find what makes you stick around, and what makes teams want to keep you around. I have been around a lot of different veterans, a lot of different guys on all my teams I have played on, I have learned bits and pieces from people here and there.
Probably the most comfortable I got was when I was in Carolina. Just learning that system, I always thought the way I play would work really well there. When I got a chance to it was the epitome of work hard and good things will happen. I still believe that today, the harder you work the better chances you will get.
THN: Is there a particular moment in your career that you would love to show to your younger self to say this is going to be you in the future?
Noesen: I don't know if there is one in particular. I would say it is a sequence of events. Being here originally, then I would say getting cut from here, and going and trying to find my way again. You know, wind up winning an AHL championship and then finding my game. I would say it is more of a sequence of events, more than anything. More of a journey.
THN: Speaking of that journey, it has taken you all over North America. Was there ever a moment in your career when you started to lose your love for the game?
Noesen: Yes, definitely. Probably right after I left here originally.
I mean, you are finally established, I would say, at home. Somewhere that you can come in and play and be relied on to be a part of a team, and then to just kind of get thrown into the wolves and (told), 'We don't want you anymore' is hard.
Then not having a single team really want you to be a part of their team after that was hard. That was kind of like, well, I don't know what I am going do anymore. Obviously, I was able to find my way back, but it doesn't happen to everyone.
That is something I do pride myself on, but also something that you don't take for granted. I have come a long way with it. That was probably the hardest time, for sure.
THN: You have now passed 400 NHL games. What has hockey given you since you were drafted in June of 2011?
Noesen: People. It has given me a lot of people that I can rely on. People I can trust.
[...] If I can sit here and preach one thing, it is to be a good person overall.
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