Sunny Mehta can get a quick win for the New Jersey Devils, but it will take some convincing

When a new leader takes the reins, they will always look for easy wins to win the team over. Maybe they make changes to the coffee machine, upgrading your caffeine intake. They might take a few meetings off your plate or give you more facetime with leadership. There are simple wins that help people get on your side and feel good about the company’s direction.

New Jersey Devils GM Sunny Mehta is trying to do the same thing, but it’s different for a hockey leader. He can’t upgrade the coffee maker for million-dollar athletes. He has to upgrade the facilities. And oftentimes, that’s beyond his control. 

What he can do is get the players and the fanbase to trust him by making moves that build excitement. The most obvious move to make that happen is to agree to a new contract with Nico Hischier. The Devils’ captain is up for an extension, but he’s not eligible to do that until July 1st. 

Mehta has a chance to make something happen even before that. 

He can sign Mikhail Yegorov to an entry-level contract. The Devils’ 2024 second-round pick has been one of their top prospects for two seasons. He was incredible, lifting Boston University to the Frozen Four and NCAA Championship Game in 2025. Last season, BU lost too much in front of Yegorov, and the replacements, which include the Devils’ second-round pick Conrad Fondrk, didn’t play well enough to make up for lost talent.

Signing Mikhail Yegorov would be a huge win for the New Jersey Devils and would build good will for Sunny Mehta

Despite his numbers dropping across the board, anyone who actually watched Yegorov play would know he’s destined for the NHL. The excitement for him shouldn’t waver because of an average season on a mediocre team. Jay Pandolfo’s squad will likely be better next season, which might make this move harder than expected.

Yegorov played a season and a half of college hockey. Most goalies grow during these years, and then they need about two years of AHL play before they are NHL-ready. That’s probably why Tom Fitzgerald re-signed Jacob Markstrom. The idea was to lay the groundwork for Yegorov to take over. Then, Jake Allen could be his backup. 

If Mehta can get Yegorov to sign now, it would be a big win for the Devils. And it would be an even bigger win for the Mehta regime.