Sunny Mehta has barely been on the job for three months, but he’s already giving the Devils a different look. The appeal isn’t just the moves themselves, though there’s plenty to like there.
It’s the way he’s making them. There’s been a clear creative streak to the work so far, whether it’s the transaction or the mechanism used to get it done.
That matters now because New Jersey has already been forced to shift gears. Elliotte Friedman reported in the final 32 Thoughts of the season that the Devils wanted to add more forwards, but needed clarity on Hayton first. With the Mammoth deciding to keep him after there was a good case for them to decline matching the offer sheet, Mehta and the Devils have to move on to other options.
And then there’s Nico Hischier, who found a way to be the hero away from the rink. The Devils captain apparently helped a family in need of assistance while they were on the water in Bern, Switzerland.
Elsewhere around hockey, the Blackhawks took a hit in a broader sense. One piece pointed to eight teams that have had a particularly rough start to the player empowerment era.
The distinction there wasn’t about the league’s worst clubs or even the ones in the bleakest overall position. Vancouver and Calgary were specifically left out, since those are bad teams with ugly short-term outlooks as part of a rebuild.
The focus instead was on teams that want to get good, or stay good, but are suddenly dealing with players saying, “not you.”
In Other News...
Panthers Fans May Not Love What Boqvist Could Become Next
Jesper Boqvist is headed back to New Jersey with a chance to carve out a more meaningful role than he had the first time around. After a season that included 13 points in 73 games, the versatile forward brings the kind of two-way game the Devils have been trying to round out in their bottom six, along with the benefit of having already spent time in the organization.
What makes the fit more interesting is the playoff background Boqvist now carries with him. He has been through three postseason runs and comes in fresh off a Stanley Cup with Florida in 2025, experience that can matter for a team trying to deepen its lineup for the 2026-27 season. The Devils are betting that a familiar face with a sturdier game can help them in ways that go beyond the box score. [Read more 🡒]
Devils May Have A Real Answer To Their Top Six Problem
Anaheims cap squeeze has become the kind of situation rival teams keep an eye on, and New Jersey has obvious reason to watch closely. After matching Leo Carlssons massive offer sheet and still needing to lock up Cutter Gauthier on a long-term deal, the Ducks may have to move money out of the roster just to get breathing room. That has naturally put a few names into the conversation, especially among players who could help a Devils group still looking for another top-six winger to fit alongside Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt.
The appeal for New Jersey is straightforward: if Anaheim is forced to make a difficult choice, the Devils would love to be in position to pounce on a proven forward who can raise the ceiling of their top six. The Ducks have several moving parts to manage, and any deal that opens cap space could send a useful scorer onto the market. For a Devils team trying to sharpen its attack, this is the kind of opportunity that can change the shape of a lineup if the right player becomes available. [Read more 🡒]