Sunny Mehta named new General Manager of Devils

Sunny Mehta named new General Manager of Devils originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New Jersey Devils have hired Sunny Mehta to become their sixth general manager in team history.

The announcement was made on the evening of April 16, with Mehta to join the Devils following spending six seasons with the Florida Panthers. In those last three years, he served as assistant general manager and head of analytics. Mehta's welcome to New Jersey comes after the Devils parted ways with then- General Manager Tom Fitzgerald on April 6, who served in that role since Jan. of 2020. This change comes as the Devils have missed the playoffs for four straight seasons until the 2022-23 campaign, and are once again out of playoff contention for the ongoing season.

Per the Devils release, Mehta returns to the organization where he first started his NHL management career. He was part of the first wave of analytics-focused executives who joined front offices and established the NHL’s first full-time analytics department when he was named as Director of Hockey Analytics in 2014.

Mehta spent four seasons in New Jersey, 2014-15 to 2017-18, under then-Devils’ President/General Manager Lou Lamoriello and, later, Ray Shero.

New Jersey Managing Partner David Blitzer said while they met with many qualified candidates, Mehta was the right man for the job.

"I'm thrilled to welcome Sunny and his wife, Nicole, back home to New Jersey,” said Blitzer. “We quickly realized this job was in high demand and were incredibly fortunate to meet with many qualified candidates. Sunny’s familiarity with our organization and experience with a two-time Stanley Cup-winning team are characteristics that will serve as a foundation for future success. Our expectations are to be a perennial playoff team and compete for the Stanley Cup, and I look forward to Sunny leading us there.”