dailyloe.com – The New Jersey Devils announced the hiring of Sunny Mehta as general manager on April 16, 2026. Mehta becomes the sixth general manager in the history of the NHL franchise. The 48-year-old executive joins the Devils after six seasons with the Florida Panthers organization. He spent his last three years there as assistant general manager and head of analytics.
Devils Managing Partner David Blitzer expressed his enthusiasm for the appointment. Blitzer said he was thrilled to welcome Sunny and his wife Nicole back home to New Jersey. He noted the job was in high demand with many qualified candidates. Blitzer cited Mehta’s familiarity with the Devils and his experience with a two-time Stanley Cup-winning team. He said these characteristics will serve as a foundation for future success.
Blitzer also outlined the organization’s expectations under Mehta’s leadership. The expectations are to be a perennial playoff team and compete for the Stanley Cup. Blitzer said he looks forward to Mehta leading the team there.
Sunny Mehta described the opportunity as a dream come true. He said he is a New Jersey kid who grew up watching Devils practices in Totowa. Mehta stated that after meeting with David Blitzer, Josh Harris, Bob Myers, and others, he knew this was the place he wanted to be.
Mehta thanked the Florida Panthers organization for his six years there. He specifically thanked Vinnie Viola, Bill Zito, and the entire Panthers organization. Mehta said it was a fantastic six years and thanked them for the opportunity to take the next career step.
Mehta highlighted the assets he sees with the New Jersey Devils franchise. He noted the team has a tremendous young core looking to become a contender again. He also pointed to a complement of young assets and draft picks. Mehta mentioned the passionate fan base that is hungry for success.
Mehta referenced the Devils’ past championship success as a goal. He said he was fortunate enough to watch the Devils raise three Stanley Cups. He expressed excitement to get to work to return the team to that level.
Mehta’s career with the Florida Panthers began in 2020. He originally joined as vice president of hockey strategy and intelligence. He was a key part of the Panthers’ management group that delivered back-to-back Stanley Cups. The team won championships in 2024 and 2025.
The consecutive championships made the Panthers just the fourth team in 30 years to achieve that feat. While with Florida, Mehta collaborated with management and coaching staff on several areas. His work included amateur player and free agent evaluation. He also worked on trade deadline opportunities and roster decisions.
This move marks a return to the organization where Mehta started his NHL management career. He was part of the first wave of analytics-focused executives to join NHL front offices. Mehta helped establish the NHL’s first full-time analytics department with the Devils.[]
Source: NHL.com
