標籤: Mehta

About a month ago today, when Sunny Mehta was introduced as the general manager of the New Jersey Devils, Sheldon Keefe was there and smiling.

It shouldn’t be a surprise to see him stay behind New Jersey’s bench next season.

However, he will not be surrounded by all the same faces. Half of his assistants were either let go or reassigned yesterday, and a search for replacements is underway. More on the latest Devils news in the links.

Elsewhere, Vegas takes a knee, Trevor Zegras speculates extension, more.

Devil’s Trade Rumors and News

New Jersey Hockey Now: So it seems Sunny Mehta has come to his decision. Sheldon Keefe will remain as head coach of the Devils. However, Mehta went ahead and made more changes around Keefe.

📺 devil’s rink report:Sunny Mehta has a lot to do this summer. One of those things involves addressing the elephant in the room with Dougie Hamilton, as I mentioned in the last clip on the Devils Rink Report.

Here’s what else he needs to do:

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NHL Trade Talk, News and National Hockey Now

Pittsburgh hockey now: The Pittsburgh Penguins have completed their reclamation projects. Just look at guys like Igor Chinakhov and Anthony Mantha. With that in mind, here are five players that could yield similar rewards for the Penguins to target Kyle Dubas in a trade.

Boston hockey now: Viktor Arvidsson quietly scored 25 goals for the Boston Bruins last season. And for this projected contract extension, he would be worth it. If he makes it into free agency, the Devils should focus on their scoring depth.

Colorado hockey now: Mehta wasn’t the only one making changes yesterday. Adam Foote is not returning behind the Vancouver bench next season. The former Colorado Avalanche defenseman was canned.

Philly hockey now: Trevor Zegras is going to get a raise and oh boy, will he get a raise. Here’s how Will James sees the Philadelphia Flyers moving forward.

Toronto Hockey Now: Do John Chayka’s latest comments suggest the Toronto Maple Leafs are not off trading William Nylander?

Athletic ($): It’s not every day you see the Vegas Golden Knights back down from their stance. Actually, this never happens. That was until Tuesday, when he admitted it was a mistake for him not to make himself available to the media after defeating the Anaheim Ducks in the second round.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

Sheldon Keefe is safe, but Sunny Mehta is cleaning house. He is serious about improving the New Jersey Devils.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Devils announced that goaltending coach Dave Rogalski has been relieved of his duties.

Additionally, assistant coach Sergei Brylin will take on a new role within the organization.

According to a team source, Braylin will no longer be in a coaching role.

The search for replacements for those roles has begun.

Keefe will return for his third season as head coach with the Devils in 2026–27. Over the course of two seasons, he is 84-70-10. The 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs are set to miss the postseason for the first time since a disappointing 2025-26 season.

Keefe described missing the postseason as “embarrassing” in his year-end press conference.

Rogalski moving on shouldn’t be a surprise. In fact, it was long pending.

The Devils signed Jacob Markstrom to a two-year extension in October to secure their crease. However, Markstrom regressed in 2025–26, recording his worst statistical season to date.

In 44 games, Markstrom recorded an .883 save percentage and was 88th out of 98 goaltenders in goals saved above expectation (-11.9).

Braylin began working as a team consultant for the Albany Devils in the New Jersey organization during the 2012–13 season. He was immediately promoted to assistant coach the following season and then became an assistant coach for New Jersey in 2022–23.

Braylin’s role moving forward has not yet been determined.

Rogalski has been in the NHL since 2017-18. He moved from St. Louis to New Jersey in the 2020–21 season. He transitioned from a development coach to a goaltending coach and has been in his role ever since.

There will be no other changes to the Devils’ coaching staff. For the time being, Brad Shaw and Jeremy Colliton will continue in their roles alongside Keefe.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

The New Jersey Devils’ ownership was unwilling to compromise for the status quo. That’s why they parted ways with Tom Fitzgerald and brought in Sunny Mehta.

Now, this doesn’t mean that they brought Mehta in with the idea that he would replace Nico Hischier. However, he gave Mehta complete autonomy to do business as he wished.

So if Mehta really wants to differentiate himself from the status quo of the previous regime, he will have to find a way to accomplish what he could not. We will know more about it in the link below.

Elsewhere, a Blueshirts trade target, Philly and Matvey Michkov, and more.

Devil’s Trade Rumors and News

New Jersey Hockey Now: So then, Mehta was brought in to separate. What better way to prove this than with a daring Quinn Hughes trade. Here’s how he might unite the Hughes Triangular force in New Jersey.

📺 devil’s rink report: It has been reported that Auston Matthews’ future in Toronto is uncertain. Well, some people have drawn attention to New Jersey in a potential franchise changing trade. In the latest video on Devils Rink Report, I break down the deal that’s received a lot of backlash online and weigh in on whether it makes sense.

Last week, we went live with immediate reaction after the draft lottery. The full episode can be found here 👇🏼

Please like and subscribe our Youtube channel And turn on those notifications when we go live every Friday!

For podcast listeners, we have officially launched on multiple platforms. Listen to Devil’s Rink Report on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music.

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NHL Trade Talk, News and National Hockey Now

Athletic ($): The Vegas Golden Knights say they got their swag back under John Tortorella on the way to eliminating the Anaheim Ducks and advancing to the Western Conference Finals.

Forever Blueshirts: This would also be a name to watch for the Devils if the Vegas Golden Knights can’t shut him down. Pavel Dorofeyev has proven to be a legitimate NHL sniper. Can the New York Rangers free him?

pittsburgh hockey now: Wayne Gretzky may be considered the best of all time in terms of professional hockey players. However, he trails only two Pittsburgh Penguins in CHL history.

Florida hockey now: Chris Knoblauch found out the hard way that being an NHL head coach isn’t a very secure job when the Edmonton Oilers fired him yesterday before the start of his three-year extension.

Philly hockey now: Forget the infamy of Matvei Michkov that Philadelphia Flyers fans believed was reality. GM Daniel Briere supported the young Russian by explaining the process and what would happen next.

Montreal hockey now: We’re heading into Game 6 after the Montreal Canadiens crushed the Buffalo Sabers last night.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

Sunny Mehta was brought in as general manager to be bold and he certainly has the opportunity to do that this summer via the New Jersey Devils trade.

Mehta’s background shows that he is willing to take risks having been a former professional poker player, an options trader, and even a professional musician.

So, why wouldn’t he at least try to acquire Quinn Hughes?

You know the story. Quinn is the older brother. Jack Hughes and Luke Hughes have long been associated with New Jersey. It would be crazy to get these three together in New Jersey – the kind of thing fans have been daydreaming about for years.

This was almost a reality in 2025-26. Ultimately, former GM Tom Fitzgerald missed the opportunity and it didn’t happen.

Thus, Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin swooped in and ran the ball back for a touchdown. Wild believed Quinn was one of, if not the final piece of the puzzle that would ultimately lift the Stanley Cup.

Still, Minnesota was devastated by the inevitable Colorado avalanche last night.

With a new person in charge, many are wondering if Mehta will be able to do what the old front office could not.

Quinn is still under contract in Minnesota through next season. He’s coming off another big year, and the Wild are in no position to “sell.”

But contracts eventually end, conditions change, and the family works harder. Therefore this story will not end.

adventure part

If the Devils are serious about it, it will definitely be worth more than just prospects and picks.

Let’s preface this by saying that I’m not advocating that Satanists should or shouldn’t do this. All I’m saying is that it’s the kind of bold move Fitzgerald wouldn’t come close to.

The Wild’s eventual collapse in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs may be due to one very obvious thing. They have no central depth.

In New Jersey, the Devils have a frontline center with the same contract expiration date as Quinn and nearly identical cap hits for the rest of their deals.

Yes. We are talking about the captain. Nico Hischier.

Hischier has been the devil’s heart. He is a reliable, two-way center who leads by example. Trading him for a defenseman – even one as good as Quinn – will feel uncomfortable at first. But hat math is hat math. Quinn wants big money on his next deal. Hischier himself is about to get a big promotion. If you’re trying to fit three Hughes brothers under one hat while trying to build a contender, something’s got to give.

A deal that really catches Minnesota’s attention might look something like this:

• devils send: Nico Hischier, Simon Nemec (or Anton Silayev), this year’s first rounder, and maybe one more piece
• devils get:Quinn Hughes

This is a huge offer. You’re leaving your captain and a young NHL defenseman who has a shot at being a top-four prospect.

However, you are becoming arguably the best defenseman in the NHL. And the Wild have been yearning for a legitimate center for years.

Maybe bold doesn’t even cover it.

Will Mehta do this?

We’re talking about a move with a magnitude of 10 here.

However, this is not unfamiliar territory for Mehta. You have to remember, Mehta didn’t get a final shot with his former club, the Florida Panthers. However, he was instrumental in assisting GM Bill Zito with important moves that ultimately led them to consecutive Stanley Cups in the last two seasons.

One of those tricks? The foresight to move Jonathan Huberdeau and Mackenzie Weegar in exchange for Matthew Tkachuk.

In the end, that trade ultimately changed the Panthers’ trajectory from bubble threat to legitimate Stanley Cup contenders.

This was the final gamble in which the Panthers lost cash twice.

So no, don’t take such a bold step in front of Mehta. History shows that calculated risks are in its DNA.

Will this also work?

On paper, adding Quinn ahead of Jack and Luke would be ridiculous. The passing, the power play, the ability to control the game from the back end – this will inevitably force the Devils to lean back on their strengths, but on steroids.

As a result, you’ll be centering the situation and diluting your already weak prospect pool at the same time. That doesn’t mean Mehta can’t figure out another 2C solution, but it won’t be easy — they don’t grow on trees, especially ones like Hischier’s that undoubtedly have 1C quality. If this doesn’t change rapidly in the cup window, you’ll have years of regrets.

Mehta’s background in analytics and poker means he probably approaches trades differently than the previous guy. The lower the sentiment, the higher the expected value. Will this lead to any major accomplishments like this in his first few months on the job… who knows.

Right now it’s all smoke. No real traction beyond the usual off-season whispers that I’ve heard. In fact, it’s more likely that Quinn extends to Minnesota.

But that kind of boldness was lacking under the previous regime and that’s what the Devils ownership are hoping Mehta will bring to the table. If the Devils really want to unify the Hughes Triforce, Mehta will have to lure Guerin to the dance.

The offseason is young and Mehta is just getting started. However, he will undoubtedly want to make his mark on the roster.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

For the benefit of the New Jersey Devils, Sunny Mehta could leave the Toronto Maple Leafs empty-handed again.

He is looking to add to his cabinet after letting contracts in the Devils front office expire without renewal.

However, Toronto has their sights set on at least one of his targets. More details on that below.

Elsewhere, an aggressive outlook with 12 OA, Pittsburgh’s summer outlook, and more.

Devil’s Trade Rumors and News

New Jersey Hockey Now: After signing Sunny Mehta out, the Devils and Toronto Maple Leafs could compete for the services of another front office executive.

Athletic ($): Check out who Scott Wheeler sees the Devils drafting if they actually use the pick to take a player.

📺 devil’s rink report: There is debate over whether the Devils should retain their 12th overall pick or trade it for immediate help. On the Devils Rink Report YouTube channel, I explained clearly why they should be aggressive about doing this later.

Earlier this week, we went live with immediate reaction after the draft lottery. The full episode can be found here 👇🏼

Please like and subscribe our Youtube channel And turn on those notifications when we go live every Friday!

For podcast listeners, we have officially launched on multiple platforms. Listen to Devil’s Rink Report on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music.

Too! Devil’s Rink Report is now on TikTok – follow us here.

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NHL Trade Talk, News and National Hockey Now

Forever Blueshirts: The New York Rangers never got this K’Andre Miller, who is showing the best version of himself in the Carolina Hurricanes’ postseason run.

pittsburgh hockey now: No matter the transaction, this is why the Pittsburgh Penguins can’t keep calm this offseason.

Boston hockey now: How the Boston Bruins empowered Marco Sturm in his first season as head coach.

Philly hockey now: Now that the Philadelphia Flyers’ Stanley Cup playoff run has ended, here is the prospect who is perhaps best suited to select in the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft.

Montreal hockey now: The Montreal Canadiens took a 2–1 series lead with a win over the Buffalo Sabers in Game 3.

Toronto Hockey Now: That’s why this former Stanley Cup-winning GM says the Maple Leafs should buy out the first overall pick in 2026.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

The New Jersey Devils’ decision to trade Sunny Mehta out from under the Toronto Maple Leafs is looking like pure highway robbery, as the Leafs selected John Chayka as their new general manager on Monday.

Mehta was the leading candidate for the GM position in Toronto before the Devils promptly fired Tom Fitzgerald and hired his successor just 10 days later.

A smart move by Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE) forced Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) to pivot, hiring Chayka as their 19th GM in history and Matt Sundin as senior executive advisor of hockey operations.

The initial announcement shocked the hockey world.

Chayka – a man who hasn’t worked in the NHL since he was suspended by Gary Bettman five years ago to pursue new opportunities around the league despite having three years remaining on his contract – comes in with a controversial background.

Ironically, he was in talks with the same ownership group that hired Mehta over interest in Chayka in 2021.

It is safe to say that it was a learning experience for HBSE.

Chayka’s appointment is being heavily criticized in Toronto. One claim says the Maple Leafs are not acting like a serious hockey team.

This conclusion was reached because the Maple Leafs are heading into one of the most important offseasons in their franchise history – similar to the Devils – and can only come to terms with a manager who has been absent from an NHL front office for the past five years, and a fan favorite without front office experience.

Again allegations are coming from Toronto media

Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun told Keith Pelley, “I’ve been in contact with about 20 people who work in the NHL, many of whom are major names we’ll all know.” “One of them supported and the other 19 thought it was a sham. Words like fraudster, liar and salesman were used.”

Pelé could only respond to that claim with “talking to different people”, while pointing to an overall process.

Suffice it to say, the Maple Leafs’ new direction is a surprise.

Granted, there were reports that the Devils were also interested in Chayka, but sources indicated the interest did not amount to anything more than that, and was derived from Chayka’s past history with HBSE.

Thus, it’s Chayka’s turn in Toronto, who hasn’t had much to do in his first managerial stint with the Arizona Coyotes. And it certainly feels like the Sundin hire is partly to help win over the doubters with the nostalgia that comes with being a Hall-of-Famer.

While the devils went in a different direction. Of course, it’s true that Mehta is a good fit because he was previously in the Devils organization.

However, Mehta’s resume – which landed him the Devils GM position – has earned HBSE a universally A-grade in terms of recruiting.

He helped build the Devils’ hockey analytics department, exposed Jesper Bratt in the 2016 NHL Draft, moved to the Washington Capitals — and also helped build their analytics department before being employed by the Florida Panthers and helping them win two Stanley Cups.

Certainly, Chayka – CEO of JKC Capital, a family-run business that reportedly owns 50 Wendy’s franchises and five Tim Hortons franchises in Ontario and Quebec – has plenty of runway to prove us all wrong.

However, as it stands, the Devils appear to be the adults in the room with home run fare, while the Maple Leafs fanned the flames in Toronto despite their intentions to stop the burning.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

After digesting Sunny Mehta’s comments as the new general manager of the New Jersey Devils, I understand that he hinted at the fate of the head coach.

His appearance at the convention was enough evidence for me to believe that Sheldon Keefe may return. But he said a lot more about Keefe that leads me to believe he’ll be behind the bench again next season.

More information on this in the Devil’s Rink Report link below.

Also below, a potential Devils trade partner, a big breakout in Ottawa, and much more.

Devil’s Trade Rumors and News

New Jersey Hockey Now: Sunny Mehta may already have a devil’s trade partner, as Manher, a fellow general, explained that no one on his team is untouchable.

📺 devil’s rink report: While Mehta pointed out that everything is still under evaluation, I discussed the latest Devils Rink report that it certainly seems like they hinted that Sheldon Keefe may remain as head coach.

Full episode here 👇🏼

Please like and subscribe our Youtube channel And turn on those notifications when we go live every Friday!

For podcast listeners, we have officially launched on multiple platforms. Listen to Devil’s Rink Report on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music.

Too! Devil’s Rink Report is now on TikTok – follow us here.

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NHL Trade Talk, News and National Hockey Now

Forever Blueshirts: That’s why the new leadership of Mika Zibanejad is important for the New York Rangers moving forward.

Athletic ($): Are the Anaheim Ducks witnessing the birth of a franchise defenseman? Jackson Lacombe is eye-opening in the first round against the Edmonton Oilers.

Pittsburgh hockey now: Put brooms away in Pennsylvania. Here’s how the changes gave the Pittsburgh Penguins new life in the Game 4 win that saved them from elimination.

Detroit hockey now: In the midst of missing the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season as head coach of the Detroit Red Wings, Steve Yzerman addressed the unwanted milestone.

Montreal hockey now: Here are the top three reasons why the Montreal Canadiens have the edge over the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first-round series.

Carolina hockey now: Tyler Kleven delivered a powerful blow to Carolina Hurricanes’ Alexander Nikishin on Saturday as the Carolina Hurricanes swept the Ottawa Senators. Rod Brind’Amour addresses the hit and provides an update after the game.

Here’s the hit:

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

It is absolutely true that Sunny Mehta’s first choice was always the New Jersey Devils. However, there was no guarantee in his mind that he was the Devils’ first choice before firing Tom Fitzgerald.

In the link, how HBSE ambushed MLSE for Mehta. Also, details of Mehta’s introductory conference.

Elsewhere, a standout rookie is looking for more in Buffalo, Detroit, and Captain Macklin?

Devil’s Trade Rumors and News

New Jersey Hockey Now: Devils ownership made several mistakes in hiring Sunny Mehta. Certainly, Mehta wanted the devils and the devils wanted Mehta. But there is more to it. Here’s how HBSE ambushed Toronto to capture Mehta.

📺 devil’s rink report: Mehta met the media for the first time for his introductory press conference and expressed his support to the organization, media and fans alike. He didn’t reveal too much, but there was a lot to chew on. In the latest episode of Devil’s Rink Report, we gave the full details.

Full episode here 👇🏼

Please like and subscribe our Youtube channel And turn on those notifications when we go live every Friday!

For podcast listeners, we have officially launched on multiple platforms. Listen to Devil’s Rink Report on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music.

Too! Devil’s Rink Report is now on TikTok – follow us here.

sign up for new jersey hockey now Newsletter for daily Devils intel straight to your inbox.

NHL Trade Talk, News and National Hockey Now

Buffalo hockey now: The Buffalo Sabers took Game 3 from the Boston Bruins on their own field. Here’s how Noah Ostlund’s NHL playoff debut stole the show with a 3-1 win.

Forever Blueshirts: Here’s how Alexis Lafreniere is making one of the guys covering the New York Rangers a believer.

Athletic ($): The Habs have been a fun story to watch this season, but the Tampa Bay Lightning may not be able to catch up to them in the series. That’s why the bolts are behind.

Pittsburgh hockey now: If the Pittsburgh Penguins have a chance to overcome a 3-0 deficit in their first-round series, here are three things they need to do.

Boston hockey now: Just like the Sabers got Ostlund, Boston Bruins head coach Marco Sturm is looking for more continuity from his kid line.

San Jose Hockey Now: Ryan Reaves wants to see Macklin Celebrini wear the ‘C’ for the San Jose Sharks.

Colorado hockey now: Despite leading the series 3-0 over the Los Angeles Kings, is the Colorado Avalanche power play an issue?

Philly hockey now: That’s why Will James says there should be some confidence in Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Samuelsson.

Detroit hockey now: The Detroit Red Wings ultimately did not make the playoffs and are now the longest-serving team to miss the league. They need more from their top players. That’s why they want Lucas Raymond to shoot more.

Montreal hockey now: On their way to taking the lead over the Lightning, here’s how Len Hutson called the game for the Montreal Canadiens in Game 3 on Friday night.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

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.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

There was no chance that the New Jersey Devils were going to let Sunny Mehta slip through their fingers.

Sunny Mehta is eight days into his Devils tenure and has already endeared himself to the New Jersey organization and fans in his introductory press conference.

Yet, just nine days ago, there was real interest and possibility that Mehta could be the next one in charge of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

According to Elliotte Friedman, David Blitzer and Josh Harris weren’t going to let that happen.

“The interesting thing about it is I didn’t think New Jersey was going to make their change (Tom Fitzgerald’s firing) until the end of the season,” Friedman told NHL Radio Network’s Morning Skate. “And then they did. I think they knew Toronto was interested, and then they said, ‘No, he’s our guy.'”

“I heard that the Devils had either reached out to other people or asked for permission to be interviewed. And then when Toronto got interested, they said, ‘No, we’re just ending this search, and he’s our guy.'”

Of course, the timing of Tom Fitzgerald’s firing is a little more obvious.

The Devils fired the ex-GM with six games remaining in the regular season, calling it a mutual decision to part ways.

Yet, going into the negotiations, Blitzer seemed to know all along that he was letting Fitzgerald go, whether the former Devils GM agreed or not.

“Talking to Josh [Harris] And sometimes talking out loud to ourselves, but ultimately, we came to the conclusion that we felt like this was the time when it made sense to separate,” Blitzer explained. ‘And as soon as that happened, that’s actually when I sat down with Tom to have a very open discussion. And we both kind of left that discussion agreeing that, you know, it would be appropriate to make that decision as the time required.”

Mehta’s fitness matters the world over. The nostalgia of growing up in Wyckoff, New Jersey and playing high school hockey at Ramapo is all well and good. Of course, on top of that he grew up a Devils fan and watched them practice at the Meadowlands.

But Mehta’s qualifications as a GM go beyond his background growing up.

The former two-time Stanley Cup-winning assistant GM is a wealth of knowledge as a former professional poker player, stock trader, two-time best-selling author and a musician. His analytical approach helped the Florida Panthers add guys like Matthew Tkachuk, while having the foresight to part ways with Johnathan Huberdeau and remove Gustav Forsling from waivers.

Heck, in his first stint with the Devils, he ranked Jesper Bratt as the third-best forward in the draft, helping New Jersey hit a home run in the 2016 NHL Draft with the current fifth-leading point collector in the draft year.

After missing out on acquiring Quinn Hughes earlier this season, the Devils were not going to miss out on another desirable asset.

As soon as they realized they might lose their man, they made the aggressive decision to move on from Fitzgerald and pull the rug out from under the Maple Leafs’ feet.

Mehta loved the devils, and the devils loved Mehta.

However, nothing was guaranteed. If the Devils had waited a little longer, Mehta might have been suiting up for the blue and white instead of the red and black.

Thus, the Devils got their guy, while the Maple Leafs are still looking for their guy.

There may have been no “eureka moment” in Fitzgerald’s dismissal. Still, there was obviously someone who hired Mehta.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

Sunny Mehta is living his dream as the general manager of the New Jersey Devils.

He himself had said this in his opening statement.

“First and foremost, I really want to thank David Blitzer, all of Devils ownership, Josh Harris and Bob Myers, Tad Brown for hiring me not only today, but 12 years ago,” Mehta began. “I can definitely tell you that my career wouldn’t be the same without these people. And it’s a thrill. To be honest, it’s a dream to be back here.”

The local boy has come home – where he previously worked as Director of Analytics – but now in a very different role.

However, he has returned before. When the Florida Panthers won the Stanley Cup — in both 2024 and 2025 — Mehta brought Lord Stanley back to his days in New Jersey with the trophy.

For Mehta, it’s always been New Jersey.

It was here that he fell in love with hockey. It was here that he fell in love with devils. And that is why he is in this position today.

There was not a single revelation in Mehta’s initial press conference. This is the 48-year-old officers’ second day on the job. He revealed that he has had at least one conversation with everyone in the organization, including the coaching staff and every player on the roster.

What it revealed was that their optimism stemmed from some of the parts the Devils already had.

“I’m extremely optimistic about this team,” Mehta said. “We have a lot of talented players, and I really believe that these talented players are going to reach a turning point and get over that hurdle. It’s my job to make sure this roster continues to be filled with the amount of talent needed to be a championship team, and I intend to do that.”

And while that’s all well and good, it’s the results that will speak the loudest.

So, what was the biggest takeaway from his introductory press conference?

Everything is under evaluation

Mehta decapitated the snake at the beginning of his introductory press conference. He explained to everyone and everything working under him is for evaluation.

It starts with Sheldon Keefe – who was present at Mehta’s introductory press conference – and extends to Nico Hischier, Simon Nemec and Arseny Gritsyuk.

This also extends to his personal cabinet, assistant coaching staff and scouting department.

“As far as the short term is concerned, moving forward, there is going to be a period of evaluation for all the players, coaches and staff,” Mehta said. “No decisions are made on anything related to him. As for David.” [Blitzer] As indicated, this is literally day two for me.”

So, there is no answer today as to who will be the head coach when the puck drops in September. And no, we don’t know the level of urgency to lock down some key pending free agents.

However, we will soon find out.

Worth noting is that when he was asked who he wanted to be like as GM, Mehta said, “I want to be like Sunny Mehta.”

In a copycat league, that’s definitely the right mindset to have going into this position.

expense for cap

The story is that the Devils owners are cheap and don’t spend where necessary.

Uh, have you seen the net worth of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment Enterprises?

With Devils co-owner David Blitzer in attendance, he answered the question everyone, including Mehta, wanted to hear.

In fact, Mehta sat on his chair as soon as he heard the answer. There is no bond on the new Devils GM. He is free to spend as he sees fit.

“It’s fair to say that we intend to spend up to the limit,” Blitzer explained.

We’ll see how it looks in the offseason. However, this is not the strongest crop of free agents. This does not mean that Mehta cannot work for top talents in the trade market. It is interesting to note that there is no restriction on this.

However, Mehta’s gutted reaction to Blitzer’s answer was obvious. It’s clear he’s excited to scout the Devils roster and put his fingerprints on it.

familiar territory

Yes, Mehta grew up in Wyckoff, New Jersey, after moving to the Garden State at the age of four. Sure, he played high school hockey in Ramapo, New Jersey.

However, that’s not why Mehta is in familiar territory as the Devils’ new GM.

Mehta arrived in the Florida Panthers organization in 2020 as vice president of hockey strategy and an analyst. The Panthers were still in turmoil. They finished the season with a 35–26–8 record, and lost in the qualifying round of the playoffs during the second half of the COVID cutoff season.

However, since that time Mehta has helped the Panthers become two-time Stanley Cup champions. Still, not without some changes. Mehta is looking to do the same thing for the Devils.

“I see a lot of similarities [in New Jersey’s roster] Because when I got to Florida, they were going through some tough times recently,” Mehta said. “But they had some very talented players. There are some things we need to keep and some things we need to change.”

After consecutive first and second round exits, Mehta played a hand in sending key players Jonathan Huberdeau and McKenzie Weegar to the Calgary Flames in exchange for Matthew Tkachuk in a blockbuster deal.

That’s when the culture of Florida changed.

The Panthers then made their second appearance in the Finals, but ultimately lost to the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023. And then, they became consecutive Stanley Cup champions in 2024 and 2025.

“I think the biggest thing is that I was already involved in that decision-making process, I was fortunate that I got a chance to work under my last boss, Bill Zito. Our backgrounds were a little different, in the sense that he went into law, I went into finance. But, he’s also a guy who grew up in hockey like me, and he’s also a guy who never played professionally. But I think that’s Bill’s biggest strength, and the fact that he’s a group of guys in Florida. Our biggest strength was the idea of having a diverse group of different people with hockey backgrounds and different perspectives. Bill did a phenomenal job of gathering those different perspectives and coming to a decision, and that’s what I intend to do here.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

It’s Sunny Mehta day in New Jersey. The New Jersey Devils are set to introduce their new general manager today at the Prudential Center at 3 p.m.

This is the beginning of a new era for the red and black.

Mehta still has a lot of work to do. One of those tasks will be figuring out what to do with their first-round pick. He’ll likely make that decision after the Devils find out their luck in the draft lottery. So, what are the chances that they could move forward? More on that in the link.

Additionally, Mehta outlined other top priorities via the Devil’s Rink Report.

Devil’s Trade Rumors and News

New Jersey Hockey Now: The NHL released its 2026 NHL Draft lottery odds over the weekend. Here are the Devils’ chances to win it, and how far they could realistically move up in the draft order.

📺 devil’s rink report: So, what priorities will Sunny Mehta face as she steps into her new role as general manager in New Jersey? We break it down in the latest Devils Rink report.

Full episode here 👇🏼

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NHL Trade Talk, News and National Hockey Now

Forever Blueshirts: Alex Tuch has been linked to the New York Rangers after trade rumors surfaced regarding the Buffalo Sabers forward. How realistic is his trade target for the Blueshirts this summer?

Athletic ($): Here’s where every player is in the playoffs without a Stanley Cup, and which player is most deserving of winning it.

Philly hockey now: The Philadelphia Flyers didn’t expect to be here. He also did not expect that some of his players would be further along in their development. That’s why Porter Marton was created for the moment it’s in now.

San Jose Hockey Now: Could Maclin Celebrini be the next captain of the San Jose Sharks? Here’s what the phenom forward said about potentially wearing the ‘C’.

Florida hockey now: We all know that the Florida Panthers do not belong in the category of teams that are out of playoff form. Still, they are. And they are in the running for the top draft pick in the upcoming draft.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on Sportsnaut and … More about James Nicholls

New Jersey Devils win general manager free agent frenzy.

Sunny Mehta was named Devils GM on Thursday evening. Mehta wanted devils. And the devils wanted him.

The stars aligned with it.

Mehta, an analytical guru, will bring a fresh perspective to the position left by former GM Tom Fitzgerald. Said approach begins immediately.

The Devils have a long list of things to address ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft and free agent frenzy.

So, where does he start?

Decision on Sheldon Keefe and coaching staff

First and foremost, Mehta will have to decide whether Sheldon Keefe will remain as head coach.

Keefe made a case for himself during the 2025–26 regular season with a healthy Jack Hughes in the lineup. New Jersey went 14-10-1 after the Olympic break. Before Hughes’ injury, the Devils were 11–4–1. If you remove the sandwich from the season when Hughes was injured that’s a combined 104-point pace.

Did he rely sufficiently on the powers of New Jersey? Certainly not when Hughes was out, nor when he was less than 100%.

The question becomes, can they get enough value from the rest of their roster if Hughes gets injured again in the future?

It depends on Mehta.

The rest of the coaching staff is also not in trouble. The power play and penalty kill were mediocre. The goaltender, namely Jacob Markstrom, was hit or miss – and most of the time, Markstrom missed.

Most, if not all, of the support staff were working on expiring contracts. Mehta will soon evaluate the work and decide whether to renew or not.

strengthen his cabinet

Mehta joins fellow assistant general managers Martin Brodeur, Dan MacKinnon and Kate Madigan.

It is unlikely that Brodeur—perhaps the most famous devil of all time—will be relieved of his duties. However, would Mehta want to surround himself with forward thinkers like him?

These are decisions that can come later. We know there are GM positions open in Nashville, Toronto, and as of this morning, Vancouver.

With only so many positions to fill, candidates can remain in their current roles, or look for something new if they wish.

Would Jamie Langenbrunner like to work for the organization he used to captain? How about Brett Pietersen? Does he want to continue working with Mehta after working together with the Florida Panthers?

If true change is going to happen, bringing in like-minded managers like Mehta will definitely turn things around.

Evaluate the scouting department

Fitzgerald has a poor track record in the draft.

They performed well alongside names like Luke Hughes, Lenny Haminaho and potential stud goaltender Mikhail Yegorov.

Simon Nemec is still in question as to his draft status, but it looks like this could work out. However, players like Logan Cooley and Cutter Gauthier—who had just scored 40 goals—were there for the taking. An argument can be made that he still misses out on the second overall pick in 2022.

And that’s exactly it. A large number of upsets and misses by Fitzgerald in key draft positions, such as when he selected Alexander Holtz and Chase Stillman, have hurt today’s roster.

What is depth scoring? Well, substitute Logan Stankoven for Stillman or Seth Jarvis for Holtz and maybe you’ll find out.

Mehta needs scouts he can trust to find gems outside the first handful of players. And he knows how to find them himself, advocating for Jesper Bratt when the Devils drafted him in 2016, when Mehta was head of the analytics department.

Sort out the major pending free agents

The Devils have three major contract issues they can address this summer.

Two, they have no choice. Arseniy Gritsyuk is a pending restricted free-agent. He is another man who chose to come to the devils and the devils chose to have him. His first NHL season after making a name for himself in the KHL was spectacular. In fact, it got so good, even Jack Hughes sees it as an original part.

He loves New Jersey, and New Jersey loves him. This should be easy to solve.

Perhaps the namecheck will be a little more difficult to sort out. The 22-year-old defenseman took a step forward this season, but you can still see where he lacks.

Offensively, the touch is there. He scored 11 goals in 68 games this season and found a clutch level the Devils could use.

However, there are still questions over his play defensively. It is reported that he could start by asking for a contract similar to Luke. Sure, he won’t be able to do that, but how far can Mehta bring down Namek and his camp?

And, of course, the captain needs a new deal on July 1, 2027. Does Mehta want to let that narrative continue for an entire season? Find out how far Hischier does or doesn’t want to commit to New Jersey and that decision will be made as soon as possible. The longer this goes on, the worse it will be for the devils.

address dougie hamilton

And finally, Mehta will have to address the Dougie Hamilton situation.

The Devils defenseman has not spoken publicly since December 17, when speculation arose that he had rejected a trade, and then allegations of a trade being made public by his agent.

It was later confirmed that Hamilton declined a deal that would have sent him to the San Jose Sharks.

It seems quite clear that Hamilton is unhappy with the current situation. Can Mehta improve it?

Or, does it give him a reason to move out of the $9 million cap hit that will give him the flexibility he needs to be a top-six forward?

One thing is certain. Clarity is needed with Hamilton. Either he is staying or he is going. Any uncertainty will only increase tension.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls