In just one day's time, we will be in April, which means the month of playoff hockey is basically here. After eight long months of training camp, preseason hockey, 82 games of regular-season hockey, and a million storylines in between, the games that matter are just about upon us.
The Stanley Cup Playoffs are scheduled to begin on Saturday, April 19. New Jersey is currently third in the Metropolitan Division with 85 points, trailing only behind the Washington Capitals and the Carolina Hurricanes. According to Money Puck, the Devils have a 99.3% chance of making the playoffs.
With all of this in mind, here are the three New Jersey Devils players who will be the most important for the team come the start of playoffs.
3. Luke Hughes
His failed shootout against the Vancouver Cancuks hurt. But, to be fair, defenseman Luke Hughes should have never been put in anyway. The 2025 New Jersey-based Hughes Bowl aside, Hughes is not to be overlooked when it comes to his skills as a defenseman, and his skills are certainly not to be overlooked in the playoffs, either.
Hughes is one of the fastest players, with an average top speed of 22.67 miles per hour and having 32 speed bursts over 20 mph per NHL EDGE. That puts Luke Hughes in the top 10% of the entire league, forward or defensemen. This, combined with "Snoopy Hughes's" ability to be the kind of defenseman who finds offensive opportunities in the zone, put him at No. 3 in our list of three most important Devils' players come the playoffs.