NHL rumblings: Maple Leafs, Devils receive permission to talk to Panthers AGM Sunny Mehta

AtlanticBruinsCanadiensLightningMaple LeafsPanthersRed WingsSabresSenatorsMetropolitanBlue JacketsCapitalsDevilsFlyersHurricanesIslandersPenguinsRangersCentralAvalancheBlackhawksBluesJetsMammothPredatorsStarsWildPacificCanucksDucksFlamesGolden KnightsKingsKrakenOilersSharksScores & ScheduleStandingsPodcastsFantasyNHL OddsNHL PicksPlayoff projectionsNHL Draft rankingRed Light NewsletterNHL rumblings: Maple Leafs, Devils receive permission to talk to Panthers AGM Sunny MehtaSunny Mehta helped architect the championdhip Panthers teams. Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Share full article1Three openings for NHL general manager positions all before the regular season is even over. One doesn’t see that every year, that’s for sure. And it would stand to reason that teams with front office openings would want to emulate the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. There would be curiosity as to how the sausage is made over there. Which is why it’s no surprise, according to league sources, that both the New Jersey Devils and Toronto Maple Leafs have asked and received permission from the Panthers to speak with assistant general manager Sunny Mehta, whose name has been all the rage of late, especially in the Toronto market. As head of analytics for the Cup champs, his background fits a big part of the profile for both the Devils and Leafs. However, he’s not the only Panthers front office member getting some love. Don’t forget about Panthers assistant GM Brett Peterson, who, according to league sources, was recently part of the Nashville Predators’ in-person interviews, also with the Panthers’ permission. Nashville spoke to around 15 candidates via Zoom in the first phase of its search process, but last week, the Predators moved on to a second phase — in-person interviews — and Peterson was among those who advanced. Peterson joined the Panthers front office in November 2020, two months after Bill Zito was named GM. They share a background as former player agents. That background is another hot trend as NHL owners try to figure out the next great GM hire. Zito is the poster boy, of course, but Kent Hughes has also excelled after going from player agent to Montreal Canadiens general manager. Last month, Peterson was named GM for Team USA at next month’s IIHF men’s world championship. We’ll see if the Leafs and Devils also reach out to Peterson. Zito might lose some front office talent with all these GM openings, but one thing he’s said over the years is that he won’t forget how, when he was assistant GM with the Columbus Blue Jackets, GM Jarmo Kekalainen gave permission to teams when asked to talk to him about GM openings. Zito interviewed for GM openings with the Buffalo Sabres, Minnesota Wild, Carolina Hurricanes, Philadelphia Flyers, Edmonton Oilers and New Jersey Devils before finally getting his shot in 2020 with the Panthers. He’s always been appreciative of the Jackets allowing him to go for those interviews. And now he’s clearly doing the same for his staff. It’s a group that also includes Paul Krepelka (another former player agent), who is senior vice president of hockey ops, and assistant GM Gregory Campbell. The price of winning is losing staff. Just like the New York Islanders lured Mathieu Darche away from the Tampa Bay Lightning last offseason. Similarly, Lightning GM Julien BriseBois was more than happy for his AGM to get a shot at a promotion elsewhere. We’ll see if Mehta and Peterson get their GM cracks this time around or have to wait for several other interviews over the next few years before landing a gig. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Pierre LeBrun has been a senior NHL columnist for The Athletic since 2017. He has been an NHL Insider for TSN since 2011 following six years as a panelist on Hockey Night In Canada. He also appears regularly on RDS in Montreal. Pierre previously covered the NHL for ESPN.com and The Canadian Press. Follow Pierre on Twitter @PierreVLeBrun