Today, the New Jersey Devils announced the appointment of Sunny Mehta as the franchise’s sixth general manager in its history.
“I’m thrilled to welcome Sunny and his wife, Nicole, back home to New Jersey,” stated Devils’ Managing Partner David Blitzer. Blitzer noted the high demand for the position and the privilege of interviewing many qualified candidates. He emphasized that Mehta’s familiarity with the organization and his experience with a two-time Stanley Cup-winning team are qualities that will form the basis for future success. Blitzer articulated the team’s ambition to be a perennial playoff contender and compete for the Stanley Cup, expressing his anticipation for Mehta to lead them to these achievements.
Mehta expressed that this is “a dream come true for a New Jersey kid, who grew up watching Devils’ practices just 20 minutes away in Totowa.” He explained that after meeting with David Blitzer, Josh Harris, Bob Myers, and other members of the organization, he was convinced this was the place for him. Mehta extended his gratitude to Vinnie Viola, Bill Zito, and the entire Florida Panthers organization for six fantastic years and for the opportunity to advance his professional career. He highlighted New Jersey’s tremendous young core poised to become contenders again, a valuable collection of young assets and draft picks, and a passionate fan base hungry for success. Mehta recalled the good fortune of witnessing the New Jersey Devils win three Stanley Cups and expressed his eagerness to work towards returning the team to that championship level.
Mehta, 48, joins New Jersey after a six-season tenure with the Florida Panthers, where he spent the last three years as assistant general manager and head of analytics. He initially joined the Panthers in 2020 as vice president of hockey strategy & intelligence. Mehta was an integral part of Florida’s management team that secured back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2024 and 2025, making them only the fourth team in the last 30 years to achieve consecutive championships. While with Florida, Mehta collaborated with the management and coaching staff on evaluating amateur players and free agents, identifying trade deadline opportunities, and making roster decisions.
This move marks Mehta’s return to the organization where he first began his NHL management career. He was among the first wave of analytics-focused executives to enter front offices and established the NHL’s first full-time analytics department when he was named Director of Hockey Analytics in 2014. Hired by David Blitzer, Josh Harris, and then-Devils’ President/General Manager Lou Lamoriello, Mehta implemented a data-centric and process-oriented vision to support the team in scouting, draft preparation, and player evaluation. He spent four seasons in New Jersey, from 2014-15 to 2017-18, serving under Lamoriello and, later, Ray Shero. His NHL front-office experience also includes consulting roles for the Washington Capitals during the 2019-20 season and the Phoenix Coyotes in 2010-11.
Mehta studied Jazz Guitar and Studio at the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music, graduating in 2000, and subsequently earned his master’s degree in data science from City University of New York. Following his graduation, he pursued careers as a professional musician in New Orleans and later as a poker player in Las Vegas. Mehta has co-authored two best-selling books on poker strategy: Professional No-Limit Hold ‘Em, Volume 1 (2009) and Small Stakes No-Limit Hold ‘Em (2007).
After his professional poker career, he worked as a Proprietary Derivatives Trader at Peak6 Capital Management at the Chicago Board of Trade.
Born in Grand Rapids, MI, and raised in Wyckoff, NJ, Mehta played varsity hockey for Ramapo High School in Franklin Lakes, NJ. He and his wife, Nicole, brought the Stanley Cup back to Ramapo in June of 2024.