The New Jersey Devils certainly had a rocky start to January, going on a four-game losing skid before turning things around with a win streak. Ultimately, they wrapped up the month with a 7-8-0 record, after dealing with countless injuries, trade speculation, and ongoing scoring struggles.
As of right now, they are without the likes of Stefan Noesen, Luke Hughes, and now Jack Hughes, constantly shifting lines around to try and minimize the gaps in their roster. As the season continues, fans are anxiously waiting to see if the team can rally for a playoff spot. In the latest installment of the “Three Stars of the Month” series for The Hockey Writers, here are the players who had the greatest impact throughout January.
Third Star: Dougie Hamilton
All season long, Dougie Hamilton has been criticized for his performance, with many arguing that he hasn’t been playing to his full potential. After racking up countless penalties and making more than a few costly mistakes, it appeared that the veteran defenseman could have been dealt before the trade deadline.
But after being benched against the Winnipeg Jets, Hamilton has since gone on a nine-game point streak, which included two goals and five power-play points. He’s been more offensively dominant than ever, recording three or more shots on goal eight times throughout January.
He played a key role in the Devils’ 5-2 win against the Minnesota Wild, assisting both of Jesper Bratt’s goals in the third period. More recently, Hamilton tied the game against the Nashville Predators, paving the way for a gutsy 3-2 overtime victory at Prudential Center.
In total, he tallied three goals and 10 assists within the last month. The turnaround was nothing short of exceptional, considering that he managed just one assist across November and December. With Luke out of the lineup until after the Olympics, the team will rely on Hamilton’s offensive abilities to keep winning games. Can his point resurgence help the Devils gain traction in the Metropolitan point race?
Second Star: Jack Hughes
Since his return to the lineup following finger surgery, Hughes has just two goals. But he still maintained a point-per-game pace all throughout January, with 13 assists to show for his efforts. In fact, he earned over half of his assists this season within the past month alone.
Hughes averaged 3.14 shots on goal per game in January. Based on data from NHL Edge, his total of 127 shots on goal this season is more than double that of the league’s average forward (62). Combined with his visionary playmaking and top-tier speed, he remains one of the Devils’ best offensive weapons.
New Jersey Devils center Nico Hischier celebrates his game winning goal with his teammates against the Seattle Kraken during overtime (Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images)
The reality is that even after being sidelined for a month, Hughes still ranks third in points on the team. Likewise, he has the highest goals for percentage among Devils’ forwards who have played at least 10 games (55.95 GF%).
Given his recent point production, the Devils will struggle without Hughes in the lineup in the near future. He played just 2:27 against the Predators before exiting the game with what the team later confirmed as a lower-body injury. Luckily, it doesn’t seem to be too serious, and hopefully it won’t affect his ability to play for Team USA in the Olympics.
First Star: Nico Hischier
All season long, no one has fought for the Devils quite like their captain, Nico Hischier. Amid chaos and uncertainty, he’s been the team’s anchor, driving play and keeping morale high. Last month, he scored seven goals and now leads the club with 41 points this season.
Nothing showed his grit and determination quite like his two game-winning goals in overtime. Against the Seattle Kraken, Hischier scored twice, giving the Devils a 2-1 lead with a power-play goal in the second, before calling game with a backhand shot in overtime.
CAP SAID NIGHT, NIGHT. pic.twitter.com/5RhEo2hnDu
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) January 30, 2026
Hischier was the hero once more against the Predators, racing up the ice on a feed from Dawson Mercer, then firing a slapshot past Justus Annunen just 42 seconds past regulation. As a result, he now has the third-most overtime goals in the Devils’ franchise history, second only to Jack Hughes and Patrik Elias.
Related: How Maxim Tsyplakov Fits With the Devils’ Current Roster
It’s no secret that Hischier is the Devils’ best player when it comes to taking faceoffs, but now he’s also the league’s best. He leads the NHL in both faceoffs taken (1,189) and faceoff wins (656), which is one of the reasons why he’s considered an elite two-way center. But aside from his on-ice impact, he’s still the heart and soul of the team, leading by example night after night.
Looking Ahead
In February, the Devils will play twice at Prudential Center before the Olympic break. This week, they’ll face two teams competing for a Metropolitan Division playoff spot: the Columbus Blue Jackets and the New York Islanders. Afterwards, seven players will head to Italy, representing the USA, Switzerland, Slovakia, and Sweden.
The Devils will finish the month with back-to-back games against the Buffalo Sabres and the Pittsburgh Penguins, followed by a road matchup against the St. Louis Blues. Can they get back on track and re-enter playoff contention?
