Devils Place Mantha on Long-Term Injured Reserve
New Jersey recalls Stefan Noesen and Lenni Hameenaho from Utica as forward Anthony Mantha is sidelined by a high-stick injury.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Hockey
The New Jersey Devils placed forward Anthony Mantha on long-term injured reserve after he was hurt by a high stick to the throat from Logan Stanley of the New York Islanders on November 7. The team also recalled forwards Stefan Noesen and Lenni Hameenaho from the Utica Comets and sent Riley Tufte to Utica.
Why it matters
The moves reshape the Devils' forward group for the coming games in Newark, with Mantha out for an extended period. Recalling two Utica players gives the club depth while it manages its lineup and roster limits.
Noesen has three points in five games with the Devils this season and six points in seven games with the Utica Comets. Hameenaho has nine points and a plus-6 rating in 11 games with Utica after playing 33 games with New Jersey last season.
The players
New Jersey Devils
An NHL franchise based in Newark, New Jersey, that competes in the league's Metropolitan Division and is affiliated with the AHL's Utica Comets.
Anthony Mantha
A veteran NHL forward who was placed on long-term injured reserve after being hurt by a high stick in a game against the New York Islanders.
Logan Stanley
A defenseman for the New York Islanders whose high stick injured Devils forward Anthony Mantha.
Stefan Noesen
A forward who was recalled to the Devils from the Utica Comets after previously being sent down due to an excess of forwards.
Lenni Hameenaho
A forward recalled from the Utica Comets who played 33 games with the Devils last season.
The details
Mantha was injured on November 7 when Stanley delivered a high stick to his throat during the game against the Islanders. He missed the Devils' games in Toronto and Winnipeg, where the team dressed 11 forwards and seven defensemen. Tufte was recalled from Utica on Monday but never appeared in a game with New Jersey before being sent back down. Noesen was assigned to Utica due to an excess of forwards.
Timeline
November 7, 2026: Mantha injured by a high stick against the Islanders.
November 9, 2026: Riley Tufte recalled from the Utica Comets.
November 10, 2026: Devils play in Winnipeg with 11 forwards and seven defensemen.
November 11, 2026: Mantha placed on long-term injured reserve; Noesen and Hameenaho recalled.
November 12, 2026: Devils host the Washington Capitals at 7 PM ET.
Season Trajectory
The Devils are using their AHL affiliate in Utica as a roster valve, shuttling forwards between New Jersey and the Comets as injuries and roster limits shift during the early season. The moves follow the same affiliate-shuttle pattern teams across the league use to manage depth through a long regular-season schedule.
The Devils now have Noesen and Hameenaho back in the lineup mix while Mantha is out, which changes who fantasy managers and fans should track for scoring. Noesen's three points in five games and Hameenaho's production in Utica are the most relevant numbers for anyone following the team's depth forwards.
The takeaway
Injuries and forward-count limits can quickly reshuffle an NHL roster, so depth players like Noesen and Hameenaho often matter more over a long season than their early-season numbers suggest. Track affiliate recalls closely if you follow a team with a deep AHL system.
What happens next
The Devils host the Washington Capitals at 7 PM ET on Thursday, November 12, the next scheduled game following these roster moves.
Further reading
For more on the team's roster moves, explore our Hockey coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Hockey Writers.
