Sunny Mehta Reshapes Devils Identity This Offseason – Hockey Writers – New Jersey Devils

Sunny Mehta has made quite a splash since taking over as general manager (GM) of the New Jersey Devils. Last month, he traded Simon Nemec and Maxim Tsyplakov to the Calgary Flames. Soon after, the Devils received a very promising draft class with Mehta at the helm, and he got even busier in the days leading up to free agency.

On Tuesday, the organization sent Jacob Markstrom and Angus Crookshank to the Florida Panthers, receiving Jesper Boqvist, Evan Rodrigues and Ben Steeves. Arseny Gritsyuk signed a three-year extension with a cap hit of $3.25 million on the same day. Once free agency came in, they re-signed Nico Hischier and Nico Daws, then added Vladislav Kolyachonok and Riley Tufte.

This offseason, Mehta is reshaping the team’s identity one move at a time. Let’s take a look at a few of the latest trends that look promising for the coming season.

Bottom-Six Overhaul

Addressing the deep scoring deficit remains a priority. With players like Hischier and Jack Hughes doing their best, they need reinforcements on the third and fourth lines. Fortunately, Mehta has taken steps to revive the Devils’ bottom 6.

Initially, he did not extend a qualifying offer to Paul Cotter, who signed a one-year contract with the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday. After a 16-goal campaign in 2024-25, many expected him to play a big role last season, combined with his fitness. But instead, Cotter seemed to struggle, becoming a liability in 5-on-5 situations. Letting him go was a smart decision on Mehta’s part, both in terms of conserving cap space and focusing more on the cornerback.

The Markstrom trade was a home run, as the Devils shed his $6 million cap hit while improving their secondary in Boqvist and Rodrigues. In his previous stint with New Jersey, Boqvist proved to be a reliable scorer. But this time around, his penalty-killing skills and playmaking experience will be a huge asset, all at a very affordable price of $1.5 million.

Likewise, Rodriguez is a 30-40 point player who can switch between center and wing as needed. With a year left on his contract, it’s a low-profile move that could bring high rewards. And as a two-time Stanley Cup champion with 41 career playoff points, he could be a valuable addition to the Devils’ quest to become a contender.

Focus on Young Talent

Another important aspect of Mehta’s retool involves young talent, which is used as a trade asset or to strengthen the team’s pipeline. For example, the return of Nemec and Tsyplakov was a conditional first-round pick in 2027 and 2028, a possible Etienne Morin, and the 35th overall pick in this year’s draft. They traded that pick to the Chicago Blackhawks at 37th and 119th overall, who ended up using it to draft Matias Vanhanen and Lavr Gashilov.

Trading ➡️ phone pic.twitter.com/fxkT5p9SPh

— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) June 27, 2026

His first draft class as GM solidified Mehta’s focus on finding the next generation of Devils talent. The selection process was a team effort, according to Chief Amateur Scout Mark Dennehy. The process involves input from various departments, including analytics, scouting, psychology, and strength and conditioning.

The 2026 NHL Draft resulted in seven picks for the Devils; one goaltender, one defenseman, and five forwards, all of whom have a high ceiling to consider. What all these players have in common is a high level of competitiveness, grit, and two-way ability. Instead of prioritizing size or strength, Mehta sought out prospects with a high hockey IQ who could fulfill future needs within the organization.

In the past, Mehta’s draft models have proven successful. In fact, he served as the Devils’ Director of Hockey Analytics during the 2016 draft, and his stats had Jesper Bratt at third place, per Peter Baugh Athletic (from ‘Model, top and draft day slide: How the Devils got Jesper Bratt before he was a star,’ Athletic4/20/25). His ability to select future talent cannot be underestimated, after forcing the team to acquire a franchise-defining player.

New direction for 2026-27

Mehta’s moves so far have been smart choices, influenced by statistics and focused on expanding the current system. He freed the organization for Markstrom’s $12 million extension, freeing up enough space to pursue pressing needs. With the first day of free agency behind them, the Devils now have less than $8 million in cap space to target a goaltender and tie up loose ends, per PuckPedia.

Last season was filled with frustration and inconsistency, but Mehta is embracing a new era of Devils hockey. Using a unique combination of advanced stats and opportunities, Mehta has been making informed decisions that could turn the New Jersey franchise in the right direction.

Their core is officially locked in now that Hischier has signed a five-year extension, but an additional roster overhaul could take the team to the next level. Once their rebuild is complete, the Devils will have a chance to become a major contender and take the league by storm. All that’s left now is to see how the rest of the season plays out.