The Devils’ offseason safety net is starting to look like a real feature, not just a nice idea on paper. That’s the thrust of the latest read on Sunny Mehta’s early run as GM: if things go sideways to start 2026-27, the organization has built-in answers at just about every level, from the NHL roster to the Comets to the coaching staff.
As one assessment put it, “All in all, Mehta’s business has directly opened a plethora of different doors in the event that things don’t go as planned to begin 2026-27. From the roster to the Comets to the coaching staff, the Devils have fallback after fallback to resort to.
Bar none, it should be regarded as the biggest plus of Mehta’s short tenure as the Devils’ GM.”
That flexibility extends to the forward group, where Mercer remains a name to watch. He’s coming off what was described as a solid season, but the next jump still hasn’t arrived since 2022-23.
The expectation isn’t that he’s automatically gone, but the door is open for movement if the right upgrade presents itself. As the piece on Devils on the Rush put it, “Mercer is coming off a solid season, but he has failed to take that step forward many of us have been hoping for since the 2022-23 season.
While it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Mercer start 2026-27 with the Devils, it may only be a matter of time before GM Sunny Mehta trades him for an upgrade.”
In goal, the Devils are also part of a trend that’s gaining traction around the league: the three-goalie tandem. Jake Allen discussed the setup on Daily Faceoff Live last week, and the idea is no longer some fringe experiment.
Buffalo and Carolina used it last season, and both teams got where they wanted to go - the playoffs for the Sabres, and a Stanley Cup for the Hurricanes. This season, the Devils could be joined by the Oilers and Canadiens among teams leaning into that model.
Elsewhere around the league, the biggest contract note was Cole Sillinger landing a three-year deal. ESPN also reported that Stars GM Jim Nill still wants to lock up Jason Robertson long term after the winger’s one-year deal this week ended a tense negotiation.
TSN added that John Tortorella, after helping lead the Golden Knights on their unexpected run to the Stanley Cup Final this spring, has no plans to step away from hockey. And The Athletic asked its staff to identify every team’s biggest on-ice villain from a rival in franchise history.
In Other News...
Evgenii Dadonov's Devils Run May Be Ending Sooner Than Expected
Evgenii Dadonovs first season with the Devils never really got the traction either side wanted. Signed to a one-year deal for 2025-26, he was limited to 24 games and managed just one goal, with a hand injury in the opener setting an early tone before more injury trouble kept interrupting any chance at momentum.
The Devils shuffled their roster around him, but the fit never settled into anything durable, and that has only added to the speculation about what comes next for the veteran winger. Reports from Russia now point toward a return to the KHL, leaving New Jersey to sort out another reminder of how quickly a low-risk addition can turn into an uncertain chapter. [Read more 🡒]
Devils Fans Have Every Reason To Turn On Minnesota Again
Minnesotas latest move has given Devils fans a fresh target, and it is easy to see why the old wounds opened back up so quickly. The comparison to July 4, 2012 is doing a lot of the emotional heavy lifting here, even if Quinn Hughes was never a Devil and the situations are not actually the same.
There is still no real evidence of tampering beyond the old rumors about Zach Parise and Ryan Suter texting during the playoffs, and Hughes has not signed an extension yet, which keeps the whole thing feeling unsettled. For New Jersey, though, the bigger opportunity may be less about the paperwork and more about the pulse of the fan base, because this is the kind of grudge that can be fed, framed and maybe even funneled into a little social media mischief. [Read more 🡒]
Why Brett Pesce Says This Devils Charity Event Hits Different
Brett Pesce is set to take part in the Shoulder Check Showcase charity game on July 30 at Martire Family Arena, an event tied to the HT40 Foundation and its push for mental health awareness. The Devils defenseman will be among several NHL players expected to join the game, with names like Trevor Zegras and Chris Kreider also on the list, giving the fundraiser a little more star power than the typical summer skates and making the cause even harder to miss.
The event is built around the simple idea of encouraging people to check in on one another, and that message has helped it grow into something bigger than a one-off charity appearance. For Pesce, it is the kind of event that lands differently because it blends hockey with a purpose that reaches well beyond the rink, and the setting at Martire Family Arena only adds to the sense that this has become a meaningful stop on the offseason calendar. [Read more 🡒]