(Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images)

Sunny Mehta, who once served as director of hockey analytics for the Devils, was hired by New Jersey on Thursday to be its new general manager.

Mehta, 48, had worked with the Florida Panthers since 2020 as an assistant general manager and head of analytics, helping them win the past two Stanley Cups.

Per ESPN, Mehta will be in charge of all hockey operations. Head coach Sheldon Keefe and his coaching staff will be evaluated after the Devils missed the postseason for the second time in three seasons.

'This is a dream come true for a New Jersey kid, who grew up watching Devils' practices just 20 minutes away in Totowa,' Mehta said. 'New Jersey has a tremendous young core that will be looking to get back to being a contender, a complement of young assets and draft picks, and a passionate fan base hungry for success. I was fortunate enough to watch the New Jersey Devils raise three Stanley Cups and am excited to get to work to return to that level.'

Mehta grew up in New Jersey and played high school hockey there, then worked as a musician, professional poker player and derivatives trader before working for the Devils from 2014-18.

Metha fills the vacancy left by the dismissal of Tom Fitzgerald earlier this month. Fitzgerald, 57, is in the running for the same role with the Nashville Predators.

Led by Olympic hero Jack Hughes, along with Jesper Bratt, Simon Nemec and Hughes' brother Luke, the Devils face a July 1 deadline on whether to offer captain Nico Hischier a contract extension. Hischier has one year left on his seven-year, $50.75 million deal. Per PuckPedia, the Devils will have $12.18 million in projected salary cap space this summer.

--Field Level Media