James Nichols
This could be the most crucial offseason in New Jersey Devils franchise history.
Sunny Mehta‘s got a laundry list of tasks this summer to get the Devils back on track as a playoff and Stanley Cup contender.
He opened his introductory press conference by explaining he’s extremely optimistic about the roster as currently constructed.
“I’m extremely optimistic about this team,” Mehta started. “We have a lot of talented players, and I really, truly believe that these talented players are about to hit an inflection point and get over that hurdle. It’s my job to make sure that this roster is consistently flush with the necessary amount of talent to be a championship team, and I intend to do that.”
However, that doesn’t mean New Jersey, on and off the ice, shouldn’t make tweaks.
In order to reach that infliction point, Mehta is going to have to push all the right buttons.
True to his poker player nature, Mehta didn’t reveal his hand in terms of what’s to come by way of reconstruction. He explained anything and everything is under evaluation.
That leaves us with several major questions going into a crucial offseason.
Will Sheldon Keefe Remain?
At the Prudential Center earlier this week when Mehta was introduced, head coach Sheldon Keefe was in attendance. Mehta thanked Keefe and the Devils’ players present for their hospitality.
The new Devils GM went on to explain he and Keefe have had several conversations already, emphasizing that Keefe is a “fantastic guy,” while reminding everyone that everything will still be up for evalution.
Yet, when delving into team identity and roster construction, Mehta admitted he hadn’t put a ton of thought into it on just Day 2 of the job. However, he did explain he’ll talk to Keefe to get a better idea of how to move forward with constructing his team.
So, will Keefe be back? We don’t know definitively. However, his attendance at the introductory conference and seemingly his involvment toward a solution indicates that Keefe very well could be behind the Devils’ bench again next season.
What Happens With Dougie Hamilton
Certainly, this isn’t a mess Mehta created. However, it’s one he will have to clean up one way or another.
Dougie Hamilton‘s situation is an awkward one for Mehta. By now, you know Hamilton hasn’t been made available to the media since December, declining to talk on multiple ocassions after his agent went public with ridicule of the former regime.
His unwillingness to speak at exit interviews indicates tension remains despite Tom Fitzgerald‘s absence.
It’s a crucial part of what happens with the Devils this offseason. Will Mehta decide a fresh start for Hamilton is best for everyone and clear his $9 million cap hit?
Or, will Mehta see Hamilton’s 28 points in the final 37 games speak louder to the Devils GM as part of the solution moving forward?
Either way, once Hamilton’s situation is sorted, it could have a trickle effect.
What’s the Impact on Simon Nemec?
One of the key questions that hinges on Hamilton’s situation is whichever way it works out, what impact does it have on Simon Nemec?
Nemec is a pending restricted free-agent who showed positive growth from the blueline this season.
The 22-year-old defenseman found a clutch gene en route to an 11-goal year. His offensive touch even earned him top power play minutes.
However, Nemec’s drawback is his defensive play. In his own zone, he’s shown slower growth than anticipated. Nemec is still a green banana that could use a bit of ripening. Yet, in order for the Devils to return to the playoffs, can they afford for No.17 to develop his defensive game at the NHL level?
Either way, it feels like whether Hamilton stays or goes, Nemec will be impacted with the opposite outcome.
Trade or Keep 2026 First Round Pick?
The Devils’ draft lottery odds to move up in the draft are quite low. Right now, they’re 12th from the bottom of the league-wide standings and are only eligible to move up to second overall.
We’ll find out just where the Devils are going to select in under two weeks time. Yet, unless they have a chance at Gavin McKenna or Ivar Stenberg, the Devils should be planning to move this pick in favor of a top-six forward to play with Jack Hughes.
How Aggressive Will Mehta Be to Improve?
Piggybacking off the trade discussion regarding their 2026 first-round pick, it leads us to wonder how aggressive Mehta will be to improve the team.
The Devils have a few needs. First, as I alluded to earlier, the Devils need a top-six forward to pair with Jack and Jesper Bratt. If mehta is going to do that, there’s a high probability he’ll use the first round pick currently in his possession.
However, could Mehta also decide that he needs to shake up the culture? If a big-name player like Brady Tkachuk or Jason Robertson become available on the trade market, will Mehta be involved as a serious trade partner? If Mehta feels the current core hasn’t worked, and perhaps they don’t align with his analytical thinking, it’s not farfetched to think he’d make a deal that would break a piece off the core.
After all, Mehta has no attachments to anyone on the roster as of now. Whereas Fitzgerald was perhaps too in love with his own roster, no strings should be attached with Mehta in terms of making a trade.
And let’s not forget, the bottom-six needs work as well. The Devils ranked 27th in goals-for this season. Their depth didnt cut it which had an impact on the top-six.
Just how many new faces will we see in September?
Can Mehta Fix the Goaltending?
The Devils’ goaltending was structured to be a last line of defense. Obviously, right? You have to beat the goaltender to score.
However, Jacob Markstrom was brought in for his high-danger save pedigree. Fitzgerald locked down Allen as a dependable 1B/backup. Only one of those two things happened in 2025-26.
The problem is both goaltenders are on the wrong side of 35. Mehta can work with Allen who is only on the hook for $1.8 million for the next four seasons.
However, Markstrom’s new two-year contract kicks in on July 1st and last through 2027-28.
Markstrom showed signs of decline this season, and if it gets any worse, the Devils are going nowhere fast. Is there a solution this summer? He has a 20-team no trade list, so Mehta’s only option is to go through 11 other teams.
Otherwise, perhaps Mehta should reconsider Dave Rogalski as the goaltending coach.
Big Ticket for Nico Hischier?
Perhaps the biggest question of the offseason. Will the Devils extend Nico Hischier when he’s eligible on July 1st?
Hischier explained at exit interviews that he wants to win a cup in New Jersey after being a bit non-commital when asked about his pending contract down the stretch of the regular season.
However, if Mehta can’t sort out a contract with Hischier sooner than later, it could become a disctraction in what is going to be a crucial 2026-27 season. It would be an unequivocal mistake to allow Hischier to reach unrestricted free agency.
Coming from Florida, one of Hischier’s comparables will certainly be Sasha Barkov. Could Hischier ink the same 8x$10M contract the Florida captain signed in 2021?
Five years later, you have to account for the cost of inflation in the rising salary cap era.
Short or Long-Term Extension for Arseny Gritsyuk?
Arseny Gritsyuk‘s rookie season could have only gone better had he not become injured for the final stretch of the season.
The 25-year-old first-year NHLer scored 13 goals and 31 points in 66 games this season, and is an outside candidate to receive Calder Trophy nominations.
Everything about Gritsyuk screams core player.
Yet, the Devils have been burned by a KHL-import before. Looking at you, Nikita Gusev.
So will Mehta commit to Gritsyuk long-term? Or is a bridge contract in store?
Everyone, including Jack Hughes, wants to see Gritsyuk stick around long-term. But, again, Mehta has no ties to the player.
Gritsyuk passes both the eye test and has impressive analytics. He seems like a player Mehta would want to lock down long-term.
