NHL.com Q&A: New Jersey Devils GM Sunny Mehta sets Stanley Cup standard in hometown return

New Jersey Devils general manager Sunny Mehta, interviewed by NHL.com in a weekly Q&A published September 20, returned to his hometown franchise with an explicit championship focus for his first season. Mehta said progress will be measured in a way that goes beyond incremental improvement, adding that unless New Jersey wins a Stanley Cup, he expects to feel disappointed—while also acknowledging that success can come in other forms such as returning to the playoffs and building consistency.

Mehta was hired April 16 after six seasons with the Florida Panthers, including the past three as assistant general manager and director of analytics. NHL.com reports that he was part of the Panthers’ process that included back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2024 and 2025. In the same interview, Mehta described New Jersey’s roster strength as depth across the lineup, saying the Devils’ top-to-bottom group can be offensively skilled and that the team is aiming to elevate second-line-caliber quality throughout its lines.

On style of play, Mehta said he does not believe a team needs one fixed identity to win, but described a fit with the current roster as a fast, skilled and intelligent approach that uses aggressive skating both with and without the puck. He also pointed to Luke Hughes’ example from a Sept. 18 scrimmage as illustrating that concept.

Mehta connected Florida’s championship-building approach to roster construction, saying the biggest difference is the players and that each team’s core brings distinct strengths. He referenced the Panthers’ additions—citing Sam Reinhart, Sam Bennett, Gustav Forsling and Carter Verhaeghe—and tied that process to the Devils’ additions of Amadeus Lombardi, Declan Chisholm, Luke Evangelista and Anthony Mantha, while noting that the eventual playing style may differ.

The Q&A also covers internal alignment with coach Sheldon Keefe, Mehta’s approach to balancing patience with young players against urgency, and goaltending considerations. Mehta said allocating resources is central in a salary-cap league, and he referenced having Jake Allen, while also discussing the earlier trade of Jacob Markstrom to Florida on July 2 as a move that enabled New Jersey to reallocate assets and create a path for Nico Daws.

Finally, Mehta described working with Martin Brodeur as “great,” calling the day-to-day relationship seamless due to Brodeur’s personality and the franchise familiarity that comes from Mehta growing up watching the Devils.

Written by Vancouver Television Sports Desk