The 31-year-old forward spent three seasons within the Hurricanes organization.
Former Carolina Hurricanes forward Stefan Noesen hit the free agency market on Monday and found his way back to his former team, the New Jersey Devils.
Noesen, 31, earned himself a three-year, $2.75 million AAV deal, a significant upgrade over the league minimum he was earning in Carolina.
Following his departure, Noesen took to Instagram to pen a message to Canes fans:
"Where to begin with this," Noesen wrote. "Honestly it’s been a journey for myself and [my] family. We have made many friends and met some amazing people along our way, but Raleigh and the Hurricanes was our most important stop along this path. Even tho it didn’t work out, the city of Raleigh will have a special place in my heart [and has] over the past 2/3 years. Thank you Caniacs."
Noesen also spoke on the opportunity he received in Carolina and how impactful Rod Brind'Amour was on him while with the Hurricanes in his first interview with the New Jersey media.
"Just having a coach that believed in me and that gave me a chance to show it was a big thing," Neosen said. "I'm a big believer in this league that if the coach is willing to give you the chance, that you can flourish."
The Plano, Texas native had a career resurgence with the Hurricanes and it was because of that that he was able to sign the biggest deal of his career.
Coming out of the 2020-21 season which Noesen barely managed to get playing time due to being stuck mostly on the COVID reserve list, the Canes offered the 2011 first-round pick a one-year, two-way deal.
But with that opportunity, he flourished.
With the Chicago Wolves in the AHL, Noesen led the league in scoring with 48 goals en route to a Calder Cup Championship.
The Hurricanes then offered the winger a two-year extension following that, but he never made his way back to Chicago.
Instead he made the NHL roster out of training camp and never looked back.
In 161 regular season games with Carolina, Noesen had 27 goals and 73 points, including 26 power play points, all while averaging just 12:07 per game.
He continued to produce even into the playoffs, where he had eight goals and 12 points in 26 playoff games with the Canes.
He was arguably the league's top value contract over that two-year span and Noesen delivered not only big goals in big moments with the Hurricanes but also a dependable, physical presence as well.
