Mailbag #60: Stefan Noesen

RALEIGH, NC. -Stefan Noesen has been a pivotal part of the Carolina Hurricanes' offense all season, finishing tied for second with seven power-play goals during the 2022-23 regular season.

This week he joined us to answer your questions.

(Please Note: Some questions have been edited for clarity.)

How does a kid from Plano, TX make it to the NHL? - @SteveBakersMask

Well, my dad is from Chicago. The Stars moved to Dallas in 1993 and I kind of just naturally gravitated to watching hockey games with him. I fell in love with skating and then I remember I was able to start skating backward pretty well.

I played baseball growing up too, but the Stars won the Stanley Cup in 1999, and that made the decision to transition to hockey that much easier.

How satisfying was it to drop the gloves in Game 3 of the series against the Devils? - @cia\_dir / @TyRicha80381388 / @jsmo1712

I think it was more of a needed thing than not. I'm not sure if the series would have turned if we didn't try and establish some respect back and try and take some momentum.

The opportunity presented itself and I kind of took advantage of it.

What do you think has made you such a fit in this Canes' system? - @the\_real\_why\_not

The way we play is just to a tee how we want to play, and how I want to play.

Whenever everyone knows how each other is playing, it makes things easy. When you're not successful as an individual, it's likely because you don't know what others are doing around you.

When you have an idea of what every person around you is doing, it gives you the ability to read off of them pretty easily (and then you're all successful).

We, as a team, have success, because we know what each other is doing. That's Rod's system and it makes it a really easy one to play in.

How special has this current run felt to you after everything that this team has been through injury-wise? - @ConnorTimmons18

It makes it scarier. Think of the guys that are out of the lineup and how much of an impact they've had in the NHL.

You want to do it for them, but you also want to do it for everyone on your team, and your family.

It makes it sweeter when you see the injured guys hanging around here in the locker room. They're still cheering because they're a part of the team.

It's also hard though, because you wonder how much better this team could be if we had our full lineup.

Do you see any similarities between the team that won a Calder Cup Championship in Chicago last year and this team here? - @CaniacIntubator

Last year, that was not a minor league team. That was as good of a team as you'll ever see in the minors.

It wasn't just that though. The team was great, the personnel was great, but it was how we played together. We did things the right way. We had two really, really good goalies. When (stuff) hit the fan, they were there to pick it up for us.

We have excellent goalies here, and one of them from last year (Kochetkov) is here now, and the other is on the other side that we're playing (Lyon). That's kind of wild.

There are a lot of similarities, but I think the biggest one is just how you play as a team and how you work for each other. Our team gelled so hard during the end of our playoff run. It made for a great experience and we'll have those friendships for a lifetime.

What's your favorite part about playing in Carolina? - @pdowney88

I've been around quite a bit. I've got to experience some good days, some bad days. I've got to experience good organizations, bad organizations, and mediocre organizations.

The best thing about this place is the family.

Rod is a family-first guy, always. There are situations where your kid is sick, or someone you love is sick, and the first thing he will always say is to go take care of them.

To me, that means a lot and it's special, especially having a daughter now and having another one on the way. When you are younger it might not mean a lot to you, but it means a lot now and it's really cool.

We have a great group of guys and the way he teaches us about caring for one another and everything, that's probably my favorite part about being here.

Do you have a favorite goal that you've scored this season? - @PapiMuffinMan

The one against Toronto was kind of cool.

The one off of the goalies back against New Jersey was pretty cool, but the game was out of hand, so it didn't matter all that much.

Playoff goals are great.

The wildest one was probably my goal against the Islanders in the first round, where Sebastian Aho whacked it into his own net. That was crazy. I remember watching it in that moment hoping that the goalie wouldn't see it coming, and he didn't, and then it went in.

If you didn't play hockey, what would you be doing? - @cococanic / @FLYRH8R

I'd probably own a couple of restaurants. I like the food industry. It's interesting.

Something along those lines. That'd be fun.

Who was your hockey idol growing up? - @FLYRH8R

Mike Modano.

He was the be-all, end-all in Dallas sports. My turtle's named after him. I had signed sticks from him growing up.

I've still never met him, which is kind of wild.

Maybe next round...

Why did you choose #23? - @flive22 / @TVonhaam

Well, I was #11 forever.

I was #9 first, but then when I got to Plymouth, Tyler Seguin was #9. So then I became #11.

I was #11 until I got to New Jersey and P.A. Parenteau had #11, so I couldn't be asking for that.

My dad is from Chicago and #23 is obviously a big number there, so I decided to go with #23. I had a good little run in #23 in New Jersey, so I just kind of stuck with it.

Not a member of Twitter? We're always happy to take questions at [email protected] as well!

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