"Stefan was a key leader on a championship team in Chicago last season," said Waddell. "Between regular season and playoffs, he scored 57 goals with the Wolves, and we believe he is capable of contributing at the NHL level."
Noesen, 29, spent most of the 2021-22 season with Chicago in the AHL and served as one of the team's alternate captains. He recorded 85 points (48g, 37a) in 70 games during the regular season and added 25 points (9g, 16a) in 18 playoff games to help the Wolves win the Calder Cup. The 6'1", 205-pound forward won the Willie Marshall Award as the league's top goal scorer, with eight more than any other AHL skater, and was named to the 2021-22 AHL First All-Star Team. Noesen also ranked second in the league in plus/minus (+35) and third in points, and he was one of just four skaters to score at least four goals on the power play and while shorthanded. During the Calder Cup Playoffs, he led the AHL in assists and finished tied for second in goals and power-play goals (5) and second in points. Noesen has registered 179 points (88g, 91a) in 224 career AHL games with Norfolk, San Diego, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, San Jose, Toronto, and Chicago. He also skated in two NHL games with the Hurricanes last season, and he has now tallied 54 points (31g, 23a) in 207 career NHL games with Anaheim, New Jersey, Pittsburgh, San Jose, Toronto, and Carolina. The Plano, Texas, native was drafted by Ottawa in the first round, 21st overall, of the 2011 NHL Draft.
