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The Devils hired Sunny Mehta as GM on Thursday
Mehta was a key part of the Florida management group that helped deliver back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2024 and 2025
He's also a World Series of Poker bracelet winner and has co-authored two poker books
The New Jersey Devils on Thursday announced they had hired Sunny Mehta as its sixth general manager in team history.
Mehta pioneered the first full-time analytics department in the National Hockey League in his previous role as the Devils' director of hockey analytics, before winning two Stanley Cups as assistant general manager of the Florida Panthers.
And now he returns to Newark.
"I'm thrilled to welcome Sunny and his wife, Nicole, back home to New Jersey,” said Devils’ Managing Partner David Blitzer. “We quickly realized this job was in high demand and were incredibly fortunate to meet with many qualified candidates. Sunny’s familiarity with our organization and experience with a two-time Stanley Cup-winning team are characteristics that will serve as a foundation for future success. Our expectations are to be a perennial playoff team and compete for the Stanley Cup, and I look forward to Sunny leading us there.”
“This is a dream come true for a New Jersey kid, who grew up watching Devils’ practices just 20 minutes away in Totowa,” said Mehta. “After meeting with David Blitzer, Josh Harris, Bob Myers, and other members of the organization, I knew this was the place I wanted to be. Thank you to Vinnie Viola, Bill Zito and the entire Florida Panthers organization for a fantastic six years and for the opportunity to take the next step in my professional career. 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, 48, originally joined the Panthers in 2020 as vice president of hockey strategy & intelligence. Mehta was a key part of the Florida management group that helped deliver back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2024 and 2025, making the team just the fourth in the last 30 years to achieve consecutive championships. While with Florida, Mehta collaborated with the management and coaching staff on amateur player and free agent evaluation, trade deadline opportunities, and roster decisions.
Mehta studied Jazz Guitar and Studio at the University of Miami's Frost School of Music, where he graduated in 2000 and later received his master’s degree in data science from City University of New York. Following his graduation, he ventured out 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).
The synopsis for Small Stakes No-Limit Hold ‘Em (2007) is as follows:
"Small stakes no-limit hold'em cash games offer remarkable opportunities...if you come armed with the right skills. To win in today's game you need to draw on a complete arsenal of the latest theories, strategies, and tactics. Now, available for the first time in print, this ultimate handbook outlines a powerful path to success, as three of the world's top experts noted poker authority Ed Miller, top pro Sunny Mehta, and renowned practical theorist Matt Flynn put their expertise to work for you. Using hand examples from actual play to illustrate key concepts, Small Stakes No-Limit Hold'em translates high-level poker theory into an easy-to-learn format that will give you the edge needed to win in today's games. You'll learn solid money-winning tactics and be able to craft winning strategies just like the top cash-game pros. Get the lowdown on: - 7 easy steps to no-limit hold'em success - Making decisions using steal equity and showdown equity - Beating online 6-max games."
The most successful tournament for Sunny Mehta was his victory at the 2016 World Series of Poker (WSOP) where he won his first and only bracelet and a cool $230,744.
Following his professional poker career, he served 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, returned to Ramapo with the Stanley Cup in June of 2024.
- Ace King, Gambling911.com
