New rumor says Brendan Shanahan is not a given for the New Jersey Devils

As the season winds down, the bulk of the chatter surrounding the New Jersey Devils has centered on its GM and President of Hockey Operations (POHO) search.

One of the most persistent rumors has been the potential for Brendan Shanahan to join the Devils in the POHO. If the chatter is to be believed, it seems almost like it’s a fait accompli that it will happen.

But that’s not quite what one insider notes.

ESPN’s Emily Kaplan addressed the Shanahan-to-Devils speculation by stating that the two sides are not that close to an agreement.

“It sounds like Brendan Shanahan, everyone was trying to make that the narrative, and I definitely think there was some interest there. The only thing I was told last week is that it is far from a done deal.”

That’s an interesting comment. While it seemed like it was only a matter of time before Shanahan returned to New Jersey, Kaplan believes that the technicalities of their contract negotiation could be getting in the way.

“I just think that maybe they were far apart, perhaps it was money.”

Now, the comment isn’t about the Devils’ ownership group suddenly becoming stingy. As Kaplan noted, the ownership is willing to spend. But that is contingent on the right situation for the organization.

And if it’s Shanahan coming in as President, someone else will have to come underneath him to take over the GM role.

Sunny Mehta, John Chayka have direct links to Devils in massive GM search

The situation seems to dictate that the Devils would be willing to bring in a seasoned, respected President to oversee some of the big-picture items on the docket.

Upon hiring a POHO, the club will need a GM to take over the day-to-day duties. One of the names bubbling to the top of the conversation is current Florida Panthers assistant GM Sunny Mehta.

Kaplan noted the evident links Mehta has to New Jersey. That includes a history in New Jersey. Kaplan also mentioned former Arizona Coyotes GM John Chayka, who reportedly has an inside track with the ownership group.

Regardless of who may emerge as the final candidate in New Jersey, it seems the situation depends on what the club wants to do. It seems that there’s a desire to maintain both the GM and POHO roles combined in one person. As Kaplan underscored, bringing in someone like Shanahan and a GM would be an onerous proposition for the organization.

Whether or not it’s Shanahan plus a GM, or a POHO/GM, will ultimately come down to the direction the ownership wants to take insofar as the team’s organizational structure.

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