The New Jersey Devils played just five games in February, with seven players competing in the 2026 Winter Olympics in between. Overall, they finished the month with a 1-4-0 record, visibly struggling as they tried to end the season on a high note. With so many familiar issues resurfacing, all eyes will be on general manager Tom Fitzgerald as the NHL trade deadline quickly approaches.
Fortunately, star defenseman Luke Hughes returned to the lineup on Saturday night against the St. Louis Blues, bringing the team one step closer to a fully healthy group. After dealing with an endless carousel of injuries this season, staying healthy should be one of the Devils’ top priorities.
In the latest episode of the series “Three Stars of the Month”. The hockey writershere are the players who made the biggest impact in February.
Third star: Nico Hischier
The Devils may be struggling with inconsistencies, but one thing is certain: Nico Hischier has been exactly the kind of leader the team needs. He currently leads the club in both goals (20) and points (43). He is their best player in all situations, manning the top while possessing solid defensive attributes.
Hischier scored the Devils’ lone goal in a 3-1 loss to the New York Islanders early this month before heading to Milan to play for Team Switzerland in the Olympics. He served as alternate captain for his home country and finished the tournament with one goal and three assists.
Similar to his role with the Devils, he was an elite top line, two-way center, especially during the qualifying round. In Switzerland’s 3-0 victory over ItalyHischier earned two assists in the opening period, then sealed the deal with an own goal in the third. He was also dominant in the faceoff circle, with a 58 win percentage (FO%).
Compared to last season, his points production has dropped slightly, but he still remains at the top of the league in terms of shots on target. The average NHL forward takes 66 shots, while Hischier belongs to the 95th percentile with 159. According to data from Natural statistical trickhe registers 14.6 shot attempts, 10.13 scoring chances and 4.9 high-risk scoring chances every 60 minutes. Once again, Hischier is doing it all for the Devils, and his leadership has been one of the team’s only constants this season.
Second star: Timo Meier
Timo Meier may not have scored any points for the Devils before halftime, but he was arguably one of the best players for Team Switzerland at the Olympics. He finished the men’s hockey tournament with three goals and four assists, while also becoming the first Swiss NHL player to play a multi-goal Olympic game. His three-point opener against France set the bar high, as did his other multi-point performances against the Czech Republic and Italy.
Now, fans are eagerly awaiting his infamous “March Meier Madness,” especially after he scored seven goals and recorded nine points last season. What’s even more exciting is that the Devils will face Hudson River rivals the New York Rangers three times in March.
I brought some of that Milanese magic home with me. pic.twitter.com/Z2Rp3Ckg3h
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) February 26, 2026
Since the NHL resumed, Meier has already scored two goals, including the opening goal in the Devils’ much-needed 3-1 win over the Blues. Going forward, the team will view him as a crucial top-six forward who will make an impact with his goals, physicality and contributions on special teams.
First star: Jack Hughes
This season, Jack Hughes has suffered numerous setbacks. He has missed a total of 21 games, starting with an accidental hand injury during a team dinner that required surgery. Entering the break, he was absent from the Devils’ last three games as he dealt with a groin injury.
Heading into the Olympics, it looked like he would have a smaller role, especially after struggling in the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament. But he quickly made the most of his limited ice time, with two primary assists on linemate Brock Nelson’s goals in the United States. 5-1 win over Latvia. He scored a goal in the following match against Denmark and then scored twice in the semi-finals against Slovakia.
Related: How the Devils can regroup after the Olympic break
Slowly but surely, he earned a spot on the third line and became the top scorer by the time the United States advanced to the gold medal game. He rose to the challenge in 3-on-3 overtime against Canada and scored the golden goal that propelled Team USA to victory. After a mildly disappointing injury-riddled season, Hughes has made an epic comeback – one that will hopefully translate to the home stretch in New Jersey.
With the Devils returning to action after the break, fans expect Hughes to be a top contributor. He already has three assists in three games and needs to stay healthy for the team to have a chance to end the season with a strong performance.
Looking ahead to March
The Devils have a busy March ahead of them, opening the month with back-to-back matchups against the Florida Panthers and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Fans will enjoy a seven-game homestand at Prudential Center before the team embarks on a five-game road trip. There will also be two tough Metro games towards the end of the month, with the Devils taking on the Washington Capitals and the Carolina Hurricanes.
At this point, the biggest question will be whether or not the Devils can reconcile their current situation, whether through trades or a performance reset. Either way, the team needs to reevaluate its current mentality if it wants to stay in the win column.
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