This could be the most crucial offseason in New Jersey Devils franchise history.
Sunny Mehta‘s got a laundry list of tasks this summer to get the Devils back on track as a playoff and Stanley Cup contender.
He opened his introductory press conference by explaining he’s extremely optimistic about the roster as currently constructed.
“I’m extremely optimistic about this team,” Mehta started. “We have a lot of talented players, and I really, truly believe that these talented players are about to hit an inflection point and get over that hurdle. It’s my job to make sure that this roster is consistently flush with the necessary amount of talent to be a championship team, and I intend to do that.”
However, that doesn’t mean New Jersey, on and off the ice, shouldn’t make tweaks.
In order to reach that infliction point, Mehta is going to have to push all the right buttons.
True to his poker player nature, Mehta didn’t reveal his hand in terms of what’s to come by way of reconstruction. He explained anything and everything is under evaluation.
That leaves us with several major questions going into a crucial offseason.
At the Prudential Center earlier this week when Mehta was introduced, head coach Sheldon Keefe was in attendance. Mehta thanked Keefe and the Devils’ players present for their hospitality.
The new Devils GM went on to explain he and Keefe have had several conversations already, emphasizing that Keefe is a “fantastic guy,” while reminding everyone that everything will still be up for evalution.
Yet, when delving into team identity and roster construction, Mehta admitted he hadn’t put a ton of thought into it on just Day 2 of the job. However, he did explain he’ll talk to Keefe to get a better idea of how to move forward with constructing his team.
So, will Keefe be back? We don’t know definitively. However, his attendance at the introductory conference and seemingly his involvment toward a solution indicates that Keefe very well could be behind the Devils’ bench again next season.
Certainly, this isn’t a mess Mehta created. However, it’s one he will have to clean up one way or another.
Dougie Hamilton‘s situation is an awkward one for Mehta. By now, you know Hamilton hasn’t been made available to the media since December, declining to talk on multiple ocassions after his agent went public with ridicule of the former regime.
His unwillingness to speak at exit interviews indicates tension remains despite Tom Fitzgerald‘s absence.
It’s a crucial part of what happens with the Devils this offseason. Will Mehta decide a fresh start for Hamilton is best for everyone and clear his $9 million cap hit?
Or, will Mehta see Hamilton’s 28 points in the final 37 games speak louder to the Devils GM as part of the solution moving forward?
Either way, once Hamilton’s situation is sorted, it could have a trickle effect.
One of the key questions that hinges on Hamilton’s situation is whichever way it works out, what impact does it have on Simon Nemec?
Nemec is a pending restricted free-agent who showed positive growth from the blueline this season.