Sunny Mehta already has the option to pick up the phone and negotiate a potential New Jersey Devils trade and improve his top six.
After failing to make the playoffs for the 10th consecutive season, the Detroit Red Wings are now the longest-serving team to miss the postseason after the Buffalo Sabers punched their ticket this spring.
Expressing his disappointment with Steve Yzerman declaring a disappointing season, he described the Red Wings as "needing better players" and said that no one in the organization is untouched.
“We will certainly look at any ways we can improve our team to take the next step,” Yzerman said. "Definitely ready to do that. We're absolutely ready to do that."
While it's unclear what direction Detroit's GM will choose to go this summer, the Red Wings certainly have some players that would benefit New Jersey in a potential Devils trade.
In his introductory press conference, Mehta explained that he wanted to "make smart, objective and educated decisions... again and again, again and again."
He later clarified that although he has a background in analytics as a former professional poker player, stock trader, and NHL executive, he finds value in blending analytics with his hockey knowledge.
"The reason I ever cared about analytics, statistical probability, is because it helped me win. It helped me win in poker. It helped me win on the trading floor, and it helped me win in hockey. And that's why I care about it.
"And blending, of course, is important in the same way as in poker it's not just the numbers. You have to get a feel for your opponent. You have to understand the subjectivity of bluffing. And, you have to understand psychology. And the same is true in trading, right? You have to have a feel for the markets. You have to understand how news affects things, how subjectivity and human emotions affect things."
So, who can the Devils target in Detroit to improve their roster?
alex debrincat
Who is better than Alex DeBrincat for goals?
DeBrincat is the Red Wings' leading goal scorer over the past two seasons, with 41 and 39 goals respectively. 2025-26 was the third time in the 28-year-old's nine-year career that he reached or surpassed the 40-goal mark. He has also scored more than 30 goals in five seasons in his career.
DeBrincat scores in a lot of different ways. He can finish off the rush, shoot from a different zone on offense, he scored 15 power play goals last season, and added eight assists on the man advantage.
DeBrincat is coming off a career-best 85-point season, which will certainly increase his trade value.
However, the Devils have assets to deal with.
DeBrincat – a regular running-back with Patrick Kane – would ultimately be a strong fit next to Devils stars Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt to complete that line.
He has one year remaining on his contract in 2026-27 with $7.875 million before a new contract becomes due next summer.
The Devils need to score more goals and that's what DeBrincat does best.
lucas raymond
If the Devils want a younger option, Mehta could target Lucas Raymond.
One of the criticisms of Raymond in 2025–26 was that he needed to shoot more. Nevertheless, he scored 25 goals on 173 shots – a shooting percentage of 14.5%.
In four of Raymond's five seasons in the NHL, he has scored 20 or more goals. In 2023–24, Raymond scored a career-high 31 goals, and the following season scored a career-high 80 points.
Raymond is a skilled all-around forward who should be spending a little more time in the prime years of his career at the age of 24.
On the downside, Raymond was trusted as the driver of his line, rather than being a complimentary piece next to Hughes or Bratt.
The Devils have assets to deal with, their first-round selection Simon Nemec and perhaps one of their young rising forward players, Lenny Haminaho.
Raymond is heading into a third, very favorable eight-year contract with a cap hit of $8.075 million.
Hey, David Blitzer gave Mehta his blessing to spend the cap. He can also swing for the fences.
