Report: Leafs, Devils given permission to talk to Panthers’ Sunny Mehta

A couple of Eastern Conference teams reportedly have their sights set on a man who has played a role in building one of the decade’s most dominant teams.

According to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic, the Toronto Maple Leafs and New Jersey Devils have both been granted permission to speak with Florida Panthers assistant general manager and director of analytics Sunny Mehta.

It comes as both teams are seeking a new general manager, as the Leafs and Devils have rid themselves of their previous heads of hockey operations, with Toronto firing Brad Treliving on March 30, while Tom Fitzgerald left New Jersey on Monday.

Mehta’s name being attached to both teams makes sense, especially the Devils. He grew up in the Garden State and was with the organization from 2014 to 2018 as the director of hockey analytics, putting together the first full-time analytics department in the NHL. While that was under a different regime, Mehta has a clear connection to the club and has the tools to be a solid choice to help turn the franchise in the right direction.

As for the Leafs side, there’s a desire for the team to have someone like Mehta’s expertise running the show. During his interesting press conference last week, MLSE CEO Keith Pelley stated that he wants to hire someone more “data-driven,” with Mehta’s resume fitting the mold.

Mehta joined the Panthers in 2020 as vice president of hockey strategy & intelligence. Two years later, he was promoted to AGM and, working under GM Bill Zito, helped formulate a roster that went on to win back-to-back Stanley Cups.

The Grand Rapids, Mich. native also worked with the Phoenix Coyotes and Washington Capitals prior to moving to Florida.

With all three teams set to miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs, there will be ample time for the Devils and Leafs to talk with Mehta and determine whether he’s the right person to restore their respective franchises to prominence.