For the New Jersey Devils, a lot has changed in only a few days.
On Tuesday, analytics guru Sunny Mehta, a two-time Stanley Cup champion hailing from the Florida Panthers, and the Devils, of course, was introduced as the new Devils general manager, replacing the departed Tom Fitzgerald.
Immediately, many things became clear, and the vibes in New Jersey skyrocketed in lockstep.
Among those reported to be in attendance for Mehta's press conference were head coach Sheldon Keefe and Devils captain Nico Hischier--two individuals out to impress their new boss. For Hischier, a contract extension, and for Keefe, likely, a job.
Mehta is commanding respect early, as he should as someone who just won two Cups, but his presence is also distinctly different from Fitzgerald's. The New Jersey native comes off as a personal, easy-going, and forthcoming guy, whereas Fitzgerald was typically more brusque, monotone, and withdrawn.
Mehta is also someone who has a background in music, as well as a lengthy one in poker. He's a true brainiac among those in the hockey industry, and his peers know it, coaches know it, and the players know it, too. Jack Hughes, specifically.
“He's an intense dude, man," Mehta was quoted as saying of Hughes by Devils team reporter Amanda Stein. "We met for coffee a couple days ago, and I want to say, like, the first 20 minutes, he just hammered me with poker questions. And I was not expecting that!”
Poker and hockey are a bit of an odd match, but Mehta and Hughes are both cerebral people in the hockey world. Obviously, it just manifests in different ways. Hughes plays his cards on the ice, and Mehta analyzes and assesses his cards off the ice.
Based on the short interaction, we can tell that Mehta has, at the very least, piqued the interest of his new franchise player with his unusual background. By the looks of it, the Devils' new boss is kicking off his second tenure in New Jersey with a strong hand.
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