As the New Jersey Devils' season languishes down to the final buzzer on Game 82, the chatter is just beginning to pick up. The biggest source of that chatter will be the search for a new GM.
One of the names that’s really hitting the airwaves is current Florida Panthers assistant GM Sunny Mehta. The Devils and Maple Leafs are believed to be trying to compete for the 47-year-old’s attention.
But as far as the Devils are concerned, a reunion might actually be on the horizon. According to TSN’s Darren Dreger, the Devils could be eyeing a reunion with former captain Jamie Langenbrunner.
Devils fans will remember Langenbrunner from his time in New Jersey during the 2000s. He was a key member of the 2003 team that won the Stanley Cup.
Fast-forward two decades, and Langenbrunner is an assistant GM with the Boston Bruins. But it’s a direct link to the current Devils’ administration that could give Langenbrunner a foot in the door.
“I look at Jamie Langenbrunner… clearly has history and I'm sure a decent relationship with Marty Brodeur… Brodeur is going to be very involved in how this process unfolds in hiring the next General Manager.”
That’s an interesting perspective. Former goalie Martin Brodeur is an executive vice-president with the Devils. And it’s believed he could have a major say in the entire GM selection process. That situation means that his solid relationship with Langenbrunner could lead New Jersey to sway more in Langenbrunner’s direction.
Devils might have management team set up
The firing of Tom Fitzgerald actually opened up two upper-management spots for the Devils. While the GM search is ongoing, there’s also the matter of the President of Hockey Operations (POHO) gig.
According to the latest chatter, the leading candidate to take over the POHO role for the Devils is another former Devil, Brendan Shanahan. Insider Frank Seravalli gives a 90% probability that the former Toronto Maple Leafs POHO settles into a similar role in New Jersey.
If these rumors come to fruition, it would certainly be an interesting departure from what the organization has seen up to now. A combination of Shanahan and Langenbrunner would aim to pretty much undo much of the mess from the Fitzgerald administration.
At the moment, there doesn’t seem to be any real indication of a firm timeline to name successors. While there’s certainly some pressure to get a management team in place, the club likely won’t rush.
So, it remains to be seen if additional candidates emerge for both the GM and POHO roles. Plenty of names have swirled around the league amid various openings. With the 2026 NHL playoffs about a week away, the action on the ice could see plenty of off-ice action as well.