Devils Made the Right Choice Placing Noesen on Waivers

Just three games into the Devils’ 2026-27 season, Noesen played in their first two. He recorded exactly six minutes of ice time in the Devils’ home opener on Oct. 1. Against the New York Islanders on Oct. 3, he took two shots and 13 shifts, spending a total of 8:48 on the ice. In this game, Noesen also recorded a minus-2.

Last season, Noesen missed a majority of the games due to a season-ending knee injury that required surgery. After recovering and rehabbing his knee during the end of the 2025-26 season and into the offseason, Noesen was ready to make an impact with the Devils again for the 2026-27 season; he still has that opportunity.

Devils Have Too Many Forwards on Roster

After general manager Sunny Mehta made several necessary acquisitions over the summer, the Devils were in a bind. New Jersey acquired forwards Jesper Boqvist, Evan Rodrigues, Ben Steeves, Amadeus Lombardi, and Luke Evangelista all over the summer. New Jersey did let go of a few players, Paul Cotter and Evgenii Dadanov going in free agency and Maxim Tspylakov being moved via trade, but the Devils still had one too many forwards on their roster.

Noesen slotted into the fourth line in the Devils’ first two games, but Boqvist entered the lineup against the Utah Mammoth on Oct. 6. The Devils were trying to give the fourth line an additional boost of speed, and Boqvist ended up scoring his first goal of the season. This moment sealed Noesen’s fate, solidifying Boqvist on the fourth line for now. Boqvist also added speed to the fourth line, something Noesen doesn’t always provide.

Noesen Can Make an Impact in Utica

Noesen has the capability to add great veteran presence to a young Utica team. The Comets are mostly comprised of younger Devils prospects, aiming for their chance to play at the NHL level. Noesen is coming into the Comets with ample NHL experience; he can share his experiences with the team.

Noesen can also add an offensive edge. After playing at the NHL level for so long, he can bring scoring talent to the AHL, something Utica desperately needs. The Comets finished second-to-last in the North Division last season, just beating the Belleville Senators. Their offense could use some help, which is something Noesen can provide.

Noesen’s move to the AHL doesn’t mean that he’s going to stay there forever. There’s always the chance that he can get called back up to the Devils later on in the season. For now, it’s better for him to stay with the Comets and actually get ice time in. If he stayed on the roster and just remained a healthy scratch, then he would be rusty by the time he hits the ice. With Noesen playing in the Comets, the extra ice time he will get will be beneficial to him down the line.

Utica to Play Home Opener on Saturday

The Comets’ next game is their home opener on Saturday, Oct. 10. Utica will host the Rochester Americans, and puck drop is scheduled for 6 PM ET. The Devils also play on Saturday, with a matinee puck drop at 3:30 PM against the Vancouver Canucks. Devils fans can go straight from watching New Jersey play to watching Utica take to the ice for their first home game of the season.