The Republic of Ireland striker, frozen out by Ronny Deila in Glasgow following off-field misdemeanors, has scored two goals in two appearances already for the side chasing Rangers for the one automatic promotion place from the Scottish Championship.
Michael O'Halloran, Rangers' deadline-day acquisition from St Johnstone, will have to go some to match the influence Stokes can have on the Edinburgh side.
However, Billy King, the winger on loan from Hearts, made his mark with a debut goal for the Ibrox side.
Third-top Falkirk opened their cheque book to emphasise their desire to clinch a play-off place at the very least.
They took skilful forward Myles Hippolyte from Championship rivals Livingston and Nathan Austin from East Fife, although the latter is one for future campaigns after being immediately loaned back to the League Two club.
Livingston themselves used some of the money from the Hippolyte deal to buy midfielder Josh Mullin from Albion Rovers, manager David Hopkin having already added some notable names with top-flight experience - including Mark Fotheringham, Charlie Telfer and Sam Stanton - in their bid to avoid the drop.
New St Mirren manager Alex Rae is also banking on experience as the Paisley side look to move away from the bottom and has recruited four players who have played in the top flight.
One-time Aberdeen striker Declan McManus looks like he will be a quality addition on his return to Greenock Morton on loan from Fleetwood Town.
Meanwhile, Raith Rovers are looking to harness the youthful talents of Aidan Connolly, the midfielder released by Dundee United, and forward Harry Panayiotou on loan from Leicester City.
Dumbarton will provide a platform for intriguing winger Kler Heh, a 19-year-old who was brought up in a refugee camp in Thailand.
In: Liam Caddis, midfielder (St Johnstone); Scott Gallagher, goalkeeper (Hearts); Mitch Megginson, forward (Raith Rovers); Ryan Finnie, defender (Annan Athletic). Loan: Scott McKenna, defender (Aberdeen).
Out: Michael Doyle, defender (St Johnstone); Andy McNeil, goalkeeper (Greenock Morton). Loan: Mark Williams, defender (Arbroath).
In: Christian Nade, forward (Hamilton Academical). Loan: Tom Walsh, midfielder (Rangers); Kler Heh, midfielder (Sheffield United).
Out: Willie Gibson, midfielder (Stranraer); Steven Craig, forward (Forfar Athletic); Gordon Smith, forward. Loan ended: Scott Brown, midfielder (St Johnstone). Loan: Ryan Clark, midfielder (Arthurlie).
In: Myles Hippolyte, forward (Livingston, undisclosed); Nathan Austin, forward (East Fife, undisclosed); Deniz Dogan Mehmet, goalkeeper (Kayserispor); Kevin McCann, defender (Warriors). Loan: Conor McGrandles, midfielder (Norwich City).
Out: Ryan Blair, midfielder (Swansea City, undisclosed); Kieran Duffie, defender; Alex Cooper, midfielder (St Mirren); Thomas Grant, midfielder. Loan ended: Ryan Sinnamon, defender (Rangers). Loan: Nathan Austin, forward (East Fife); Graham Bowman, goalkeeper (Stenhousemuir); Scott Shepherd, forward (Brechin City); Alex Tokarczyk,  goalkeeper (Montrose).
In: Andy McNeil, goalkeeper (Alloa Athletic).Loan: Declan McManus, forward (Fleetwood Town)
Out: Grant Adam, goalkeeper (Cowdenbeath). Loan: Thomas Orr, forward (East Stirlingshire); Dylan Stevenson, midfielder (Berwick Rangers).
In: Kevin Thomson, midfielder (Dundee); Otso Virtanen, goalkeeper (Mariehamn); Chris Dagnall, forward (Karela Blasters); Josh Peters, forward (Strathspey Thistle). Loan: Anthony Stokes, forward (Celtic); Niklas Gunnarsson, defender (Valerenga).
Out: Dominique Malonga, forward (Pro Vercelli 1892, undisclosed); Adam Eckersley, defender; Antonio Reguero, goalkeeper. Loan: Jordan Forster, defender (Plymouth Argyle); Sam Stanton, midfielder (Livingston); Jordan McGregor, defender (Berwick Rangers); Callum Crane, defender (Berwick Rangers); Aaron Dunsmore, defender (Edinburgh City); Aaron Scott, midfielder (Gala Fairydean). Loan ended: Islam Feruz, forward (Chelsea); Henri Anier, forward (Dundee United).
In: Josh Mullin, midfielder (Albion Rovers, undisclosed); Mark Fotheringham, midfielder (Fulham); Marc McCallum, goalkeeper (Dundee United); Craig Halkett, defender (Rangers). Loan: Charlie Telfer, midfielder (Dundee United); Sam Stanton, midfielder (Hibernian); Osman Kakay, defender (Queens Park Rangers).
Out: Mark Burchill, manager; Myles Hippolyte, forward (Falkirk, undisclosed); Hugo Faria, midfielder (Airdrieonians); Ross Millen, defender (Clyde); Declan Gallagher, defender (prison); Moses Duckrell, midfielder. Loan: Spas Georgiev, midfielder (Albion Rovers); Kieran Gibbons, midfielder (Cowdenbeath).
In: Loan: Andy Murdoch, midfielder (Rangers).
Out: Paul Heffernan, forward. Loan: Shaun Rutherford, defender (Arbroath); Scott Hooper, defender (Queen's Park); Fraser Morton, goalkeeper (Dalbeattie Star). Loan ended: Liam Coogans, forward (Huddersfield Town).
In: Aidan Connolly, midfielder (Dundee United). Loan: Harry Panayiotou, forward (Leicester City); Louis Longridge, forward (Hamilton Academical); Ryan Hardie, forward (Rangers).
Out: Mitch Megginson, forward (Alloa Athletic); Jon Daly, forward (Hearts). Loan: Darren Petrie, midfielder (Albion Rovers). Loan ended: Craig Wighton, forward (Dundee).
In: Michael O'Halloran, forward (St Johnstone, undisclosed); Maciej Gostomski, goalkeeper (Lech Poznan); Harry Forrester, midfielder (Doncaster Rovers); Mekhi Leacock-McLeod, midfielder (Wolverhampton Wanderers). Loan: Billy King, midfielder (Hearts).
Out: Craig Halkett, defender (Livingston). Loan ended: Nathan Oduwa, midfielder (Tottenham Hotspur). Loan: Fraser Aird, midfielder (Vancouver Whitecaps); Andy Murdoch, midfielder (Queen of the South); Tom Walsh, midfielder (Dumbarton); Ryan Hardie, forward (Raith Rovers); Liam Kelly, goalkeeper (East Fife).
In: Rocco Quinn, midfielder (Ross County); Gary Irvine, defender (Dundee); Alex Cooper, midfielder (Falkirk). Loan: David Clarkson, forward (Motherwell).
Out: Mark Ridgers, goalkeeper. Loan ended: Paul McMullan, midfielder (Celtic); Luke Conlan, midfielder (Burnley); Craig Reid, defender (Motherwell). Loan: Lewis McLear, midfielder (Stirling Albion).
Rangers and Falkirk splashed the cash, but it was promotion rivals Hibernian who stole the headlines during January with the capture of Anthony Stokes on loan from Celtic.