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New Jersey Devils’ 3 Stars of March

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers
By Donnah Campbell | Last updated Apr 1, 2025 10:45 AM ET

The New Jersey Devils had quite a whirlwind throughout March. Prior to the trade deadline, they acquired defenseman Brian Dumoulin and center Cody Glass, who have excelled in their new roles. Unfortunately, the team is still suffering at the hands of familiar issues, including inconsistency, injuries, and difficulty maintaining a lead.

On the bright side, the team is still firmly wedged in a playoff spot, thanks to the efforts of a few key players. In the third installment of the “Three Stars of the Month” series for The Hockey Writers, here are the Devils who made a positive impact while the team made a March playoff push.

Third Star: Cody Glass

Since acquiring Glass from the Pittsburgh Penguins, he has helped resolve the Devils’ bottom-six scoring issues. After arriving in New Jersey, Glass had two goals and four assists, including a multipoint game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Not only was he promoted to the second line, but he also spent time on the second power-play unit. According to MoneyPuck, Glass has a 92% Corsi and a 100% on-ice goals percentage in 5-on-4 scenarios.

Glass has put up some impressive numbers so far. His 72.73 goals for percentage (GF%) makes him a dangerous opponent on the ice. He also ranks in the 93rd percentile in offensive zone time, and averages 1.56 points per 60 minutes. This season, he has recorded a career-high in both blocked shots (34) and faceoff win percentage (50.2%).

He’s even setting an example for his fellow teammates. Since being placed on Glass’ wing, Erik Haula ended his scoring drought, with three goals in his last seven games. Haula’s expected goals for percentage (xGF%) has increased by 20.44% paired with Glass.

In the absence of Jack Hughes, Glass has provided crucial center depth. Despite missing the last four games at the end of the month with a lower-body injury, he has been exactly what the Devils needed. If Glass is available for the playoffs, he will be an important element for their bottom-six scoring.

Second Star: Nico Hischier

Nico Hischier has been the most consistent Devil this season, and is reliable with his point production, faceoff percentage, and two-way game. Currently, he leads the league in faceoffs taken and remains the Devils’ top goal scorer. Hischier has been a catalyst in the team’s fight to maintain a playoff spot.

Throughout March, the Devils’ captain earned a whopping 17 points and averaged 2.38 shots on goal per game. He amassed ten goals, five of which were on the power play. Hischier had an impressive game against the Minnesota Wild on Saturday night, notching his second career hat trick to propel the team to a 5-2 victory. He even surpassed his previous career high in goals and is up to 34 this season.

Hischier’s offensive contributions have reached new heights. He ranks in the 98th percentile in both high-danger shots and goals. And he remains a strong presence in the faceoff circle, with a 55.5 win percentage (FO%). He is also a leader on the Devils’ top power-play unit, with 26 points and a 97.87 goals for percentage (GF%) on the man advantage.

Hischier is living up to his role as the heartbeat of New Jersey’s franchise. He has set the tone that the Devils won’t go down without a fight, and will lead the charge in the team’s upcoming playoff run.

First Star: Luke Hughes

The Devils might be lacking Dougie Hamilton and Jonas Siegenthaler from the lineup, but Luke Hughes has gone above and beyond, playing like a seasoned veteran. In March, he earned a total of 16 points and averaged 23:54 ice time.

And the milestones just keep on coming for Hughes. Last week, he became the first Devils defenseman since Brian Rafalski to record consecutive 30-assist seasons. In March alone, Hughes had six multipoint games and eight power-play assists.

Hughes missed only one game due to a groin injury, but returned to the bench for the Devils’ doubleheader against the Wild. Luckily, he came back better than ever and even scored the opening goal on Monday night.

Use the Force, Luke. pic.twitter.com/8Q7ZfHtTAh
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) March 31, 2025

He continues to be a shutdown defenseman, alongside his partner Brett Pesce. When this defensive pair is on the ice, the Devils’ goalie tandem has a .906 save percentage (SV%). The Hughes-Pesce pairing has contributed 29 goals for and averages 59.31 shot attempts every 60 minutes.

But Hughes has also been rounding out his offensive game in Hamilton’s absence. With 12 points in ten games, his point production has been nothing short of outstanding. Hughes has appeared in only three postseason games in his NHL career, but he will play a vital role for the Devils in the upcoming weeks.

The Road to the Playoffs

The Devils have just six games remaining in the regular season, but they have a solid group of players headed into the postseason. The team had quite a few strong performances in March, but they must find consistency if they want to avoid a repeat of their early playoff exit during the 2022-23 season. Ultimately, the Devils must dig deep in order to make a strong regular season finish.