With the 2025 Trade Deadline looming at the end of the week, things are starting to look grim for the New Jersey Devils. For a while, the team managed to stay afloat, but with a 5-7-0 record in their last 12 games, a change is imperative. Things are quickly moving toward “do-or-die” status as the team clings to a playoff spot. The Columbus Blue Jackets are just four points behind, and now it’s up to general manager Tom Fitzgerald to address the Devils’ glaring needs.
It’s simple to say that a depth scorer or a third-line center could magically solve everything overnight, but there are bigger issues at hand. The Devils still have no update on their star forward, Jack Hughes, who crashed into the boards hard on Sunday night. Losing Hughes for an extended period of time could be the hypothetical nail in the coffin.
What About PB&J?!
Whenever the Devils score, there’s a high likelihood that the goal came from the “PB&J” line, consisting of Ondrej Palat, Hughes, and Jesper Bratt. This trio has been deployed in 53 games, with a 58.82 goals for percentage (GF%). In their last five games before Hughes was injured, they had a combined 39 shots and four goals. And for two of those matchups, the Devils’ top line was the only one producing.
Hughes leads the club with 70 points, 27 goals, and 20:54 ice time per game. He’s also considered the team’s “finisher” with seven game-winning goals so far this season. Without him, it will be difficult for the Devils to return to their winning ways.
If Hughes will be out long-term, this puts the Devils’ goal-scoring abilities in jeopardy. However, if the team places him on Long Term Injured Reserve, they could have an additional $8 million cap space available to try and whip themselves into playoff shape. Technically, the Devils could add a top-six forward to their roster before the end of the week, but it would come at the expense of their best player.
Playoff Push Shake-Up
At practice on Tuesday morning, the lines were shuffled to account for Hughes’s absence. Nico Hischier was moved to the first line with Bratt and Timo Meier on his wings. Unsurprisingly, Dawson Mercer was promoted to second-line center, working alongside Palat and Tomas Tatar.
These line combinations proved to be haphazard in the Devils’ game against the Dallas Stars. An array of careless penalties put the Devils into a tricky situation, and an unfortunate icing call halted their attempt at a comeback victory. By all means, the Devils deserved the win. According to Natural Stat Trick, they accounted for 64.1% of scoring chances for (SCF), along with 66.67% of high-danger chances for (HDCF).
Surprisingly, Stefan Noesen led the team with five shots on goal, while Palat had none. There were a few bright spots, like power-play goals courtesy of Meier and Hischier, but the lack of Hughes in the lineup proved fatal. As if the loss wasn’t heartbreaking enough, the Devils could lose their star defenseman as Dougie Hamilton exited the game early with an apparent lower-body injury. Without these key players, the Devils are struggling to keep their heads above water.
Hughes It or Lose It
Originally, the Devils needed to trade for a depth scorer before the deadline, but without Hughes, it could be wise to pursue a premium goal scorer. On Tuesday afternoon, New Jersey acquired Shane Lachance as part of a three-way deal with the Boston Bruins and Edmonton Oilers. While this won’t solve any immediate problems, it does add to their prospect pool.
The organization is running out of time and needs to make a move before it’s too late. The Devils’ season hangs in precarious balance and Fitzgerald needs to accept that the team could use more offensive production.
Related: 2025 NHL Trade Deadline Tracker
Previously, he stated he wasn’t concerned with their offensive capabilities, but the numbers are certainly eye-opening. Last season, the team had six players who scored 20-plus goals, including former Devil Tyler Toffoli. But this season? Hughes and Hischier are the only two who have crossed that threshold. Without Hughes, things could get a whole lot uglier.
And with possible trade targets Trent Frederic (the main piece of the aforementioned three-way trade) and Jake Evans already spoken for, the Devils need to regroup before the deadline. Depth scoring is a need that must be taken care of, but the rental market should also be explored with Hughes out until further notice.
Devils Playoff Push Moving Forward
The Devils have their work cut out for them with the Blue Jackets hot on their heels and their leading goal scorer sidelined for the near future. The deadline sits a few short days away, with plenty of problems for their GM to address before then. What do you think the Devils should do before the deadline? Let us know in the comments below!
