Devils Name Sunny Mehta General Manager
This evening the New Jersey Devils shared that Sunny Mehta has been named their new general manager, sixth in franchise history, replacing Tom Fitzgerald.
Mehta, 48, had been serving as Assistant General Manager and Director of Analytics for the Florida Panthers since 2023, helping lead them to a level of unprecedented success with back-to-back Stanley Cups. He returns to Newark, the first NHL job of his career, where he’d been from 2014-2018 as Director of Hockey Analytics.
Having grown up in Wyckoff, New Jersey as a young Devils fan, Mehta’s path to leading an NHL franchise is a fascinating one. An analytics wizard, he did play the game, a varsity skater for Ramapo High School in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey. Still, it’s quite different from the previous GM Fitzgerald, and his over 1,000 NHL appearances.
After the long-standing Lou Lamoriello era, which spanned across four different decades (1987-2015), New Jersey experienced more change in their front office than usual, with Ray Shero and Fitzgerald both coming and going since. Now Mehta is back into the fold, bridging the gap having worked with the team back in an entirely different era, where he’ll hope to clean up an impressive roster which has some flaws.
With his playing career over after high school, Mehta attended the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music, studying Jazz Guitar and graduating in 2000. He became a professional musician, also a successful poker player who co-authored successful books on strategy within the card game. Eventually obtaining his Master’s in Data Science from City University of New York, needless to say, Mehta’s background is fully evident of a departure from typical within the National Hockey League.
Guitar or cards aside, Mehta’s hockey resume speaks for itself. Still under age 50, he is a two-time Stanley Cup Champion, spearheading the first full-time analytics department in the NHL. If there’s any doubt on his ability to evaluate talent, Mehta’s input helped New Jersey land one of the biggest draft steals in recent memory. His model ranked Jesper Bratt as third in the 2016 draft, behind just Auston Matthews and Patrik Laine, the top two picks that year. If anyone shrugged off the analytical guru at the draft table a decade ago, Mehta has the last laugh, as New Jersey eventually heeded his advice, choosing the Swedish winger in the sixth round. Since then, he’s blossomed into a top scorer for the Devils, currently ranking fifth in total points out of 2016 draftees, not bad for 162nd overall.
Moving on to Florida, where he worked alongside general manager Bill Zito, Mehta has received much praise for his impact. Florida’s ability to assemble a perfectly-structured team with a number of savvy moves brought them a level of success nobody could have anticipated a decade ago. Earlier this month, Mehta was outlined in an article by TSN’s Mark Masters, where Panther Mackie Samoskevich said “Everything he touches turns to gold”.
Along with a reunion with a prospect he sought out, Mehta inherits a roster which is mostly intact, for better or for worse. Across their entire forward core, only Evgenii Dadonov and Zack MacEwen are pending unrestricted free agents, neither of whom made an impact this year. It’s much the same on the back end, with only Dennis Cholowski having an expiring contract. In net, Jacob Markström and Jake Allen are locked up for the foreseeable future. The former had his worst professional season in a decade, but the hope will be that the towering Swede can turn it around somehow, although he’s now 36 years old.
The situation presents an intriguing challenge for Mehta, who must shake things up after a disappointing campaign, where his Devils came out hot but fell flat after a series of unfortunate events. None of which were more vexing than top scorer Jack Hughes‘ freak hand injury which happened in a restaurant and cost him 25% of the season. There’s little need for some huge free agent spending spree, nor a massive retool, as few teams offer a one-two punch down the middle as young and formidable as the Devils between Hughes and Nico Hischier.
Mehta’s work will be cut out for him in fixing Fitzgerald’s attempts to supplement the young core, which made sense at the time, but proved futile. Finding a way to move on from at least one of Dougie Hamilton and Timo Meier could be the first order of business, but it’s not an ideal scenario given their trade protection and contracts which are worth $9MM and $8.8MM, respectively. Hamilton was most recently linked to Utah, back in February, as there’s always a market for a tall righty with high offensive abilities, contract aside.
He’ll also have the opportunity to consider a change behind the bench, as head coach Sheldon Keefe‘s future seems to be up in the air. However, the 33-year-old has a modern approach to the game which has parallels to Mehta’s mindset, and Keefe deserves some leniency from a year so lost to injury.
With their season coming to an end back on Tuesday, Mehta will get right to work, with the 2026 draft just over a month away. As of now, he’s projected to have the 11th overall pick, which could shift slightly after tonight’s final games, or if he is dealt a favorable hand at the draft lottery on May 5.
Devils Recall Nico Daws, Topias Vilen
April 15: With the season now over, the team announced that they’ve sent Daws, Vilen, and center Marc McLaughlin back to Utica.
April 10: The Devils recalled goaltender Nico Daws and defenseman Topias Vilen from AHL Utica on Friday, per a team announcement. They’ll be on hand for tomorrow’s game against the Red Wings.
With New Jersey not headed to the playoffs, they’re likely taking an opportunity to get some younger faces into the lineup over their final few games. There’s more of a direct need for Vilen’s services. The 23-year-old lefty could make his NHL debut tomorrow in place of Luke Hughes, who opted for an early end to his season to undergo a much-needed shoulder surgery.
Hughes was shut down before last night’s game against the Penguins, meaning Dennis Cholowski, the team’s only healthy extra on the blue line, dressed in his stead. It was the 28-year-old’s first appearance since being recalled in early March and his first NHL game since Dec. 14. After he posted a -2 rating in 17:40 of ice time, it’s no surprise to see New Jersey want to get a younger, higher-upside face in the lineup for their last three games.
Vilen is now in his third season stateside. A fifth-round pick by the Devils back in 2021, the 6’1″ lefty has been a consistent two-way piece in Utica with a career 7-70–77 scoring line in 171 AHL games with a +5 rating. That includes a career-high four goals and 20 assists for 24 points in 59 appearances this season.
Selected from Pelicans in Finland’s Liiga, he checks in as the #11 prospect in New Jersey’s pool and #3 among left-handed defenders behind 2024 10th overall pick Anton Silayev (#2) and 2022 fourth-rounder Daniil Orlov (#6), per Scott Wheeler of The Athletic. He’s shown enough in his toolkit at the AHL level that he could end up being a bottom-pairing, penalty-killing staple for the Devils in the next couple of years. His entry-level contract is wrapping up this summer, but given his consistency in minor league play, he’s a strong candidate to receive a qualifying offer.
The 25-year-old Daws already has 48 career starts and 53 appearances to his name, but just one of them has come this season. The Devils’ third-stringer got a lone early-season tryout against the Wild back on Oct. 22 while Jacob Markström was dealing with a lower-body injury, allowing just one goal on 31 shots for a shimmering .968 SV% in a 4-1 win.
Daws is an interesting study. The 2020 third-rounder is certainly too old now to be considered a true prospect, and his AHL track record isn’t great. He has an .891 SV% and 2.84 GAA in 42 showings for Utica this season, which will be his third straight finishing below a .900 SV% in the minors.
His recent NHL samples, however, have been excellent. On top of his great start back in October, he had a similarly strong .939 SV%, 1.60 GAA, and 3-1-0 record in six showings in #3 duties last year. That’s good for 7.0 goals saved above expected in his last seven NHL appearances, per MoneyPuck.
Markström is signed through 2027-28, and veteran backup Jake Allen is under contract through 2029-30, so there’s no clear pathway yet for Daws to see more NHL ice next season. He’s in the last year of his contract but is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights, so the Devils can easily retain him if they choose, knowing he might not clear waivers in the fall.
Devils Reassign Lenni Hameenaho, Place Brian Halonen On Waivers
The New Jersey Devils are sending some reinforcements to their AHL affiliate for one final postseason push. The Devils announced that they’ve reassigned Lenni Hameenaho to the AHL’s Utica Comets and have placed Brian Halonen on waivers to do the same.
Hameenaho, 21, has had a quality first year of professional hockey in North America. New Jersey selected the Kajaani, Finland native with the 58th overall pick of the 2023 NHL Draft, and he spent his two post-draft years with the Finnish Liiga’s Ässät.
He was more than successful over that stretch, scoring 34 goals and 82 points in 104 games with a +17 rating, proving to the Devils that he was ready for the jump to the AHL.
Although he has been unable to sustain the level of scoring he showed in Finland, Hameenaho has still registered nine goals and 22 points in 34 games for the Comets this season. He’s unlikely to finish as Utica’s top rookie, though he’s nearly there with nearly 30 fewer games played.
His NHL debut hasn’t been as promising, in contrast. Hameenaho has played in 33 games for the Devils this season, scoring two goals and eight points while averaging 12:11 of ice time in a third-line role. His 48.8% CorsiFor hasn’t provided much confidence, either, though he’s still young and has plenty of time for more development.
Meanwhile, Halonen is a much more experienced veteran and should head to Utica tomorrow. Although a team could technically claim him, he’s unable to play in the postseason and has never been considered a quality prospect. Still, he’s been a solid performer for the Comets, scoring 19 goals and 32 points in 48 games this season.
Jamie Langenbrunner Linked To Vacant Devils GM Role
The Devils are one of three teams currently on the lookout for a new general manager, joining Toronto and Nashville, whose search is nearing the two-month mark. New Jersey’s opening was newly created with this week’s departure of Tom Fitzgerald.
At this stage, the team is still putting together its list of candidates but one of them will be a familiar name for many fans. James Nichols of New Jersey Hockey Now and Anthony DiMarco of Daily Faceoff are among those reporting (Twitter links) that Jamie Langenbrunner is a potential target for the Devils.
Langenbrunner is certainly familiar with the organization, having spent parts of nine seasons there. He played in 564 games for the team, notching 142 goals and 243 assists, while having his best four individual seasons offensively. He also played an integral role in their 2004 Stanley Cup title alongside Martin Brodeur, who works in New Jersey’s front office as their Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations.
Since retiring, Langenbrunner has worked for the Bruins in a variety of off-ice roles. Starting off as a development coach in 2015, he then moved up to Director of Player Development for three years and has served as an Assistant GM for each of the last four seasons. The next logical stepping stone for him would be as a GM.
As things stand, Langenbrunner won’t be the only candidate with ties to the Devils. Former analytics staffer Sunny Mehta received permission from Florida to interview for the role earlier this week while long-time Toronto president Brendan Shanahan has been a speculative candidate for a role in the front office as well.
Devils Shutting Down Jacob Markstrom For Season
The Devils will not play starting goaltender Jacob Markström in their final three games of the season, head coach Sheldon Keefe said Friday.
Markström “gets the chance to go into the offseason without doing any further damage,” Keefe said, implying he’d been dealing with some lingering injuries. He’ll get a head start now to get back to 100% for training camp, presumably without needing surgery.
That certainly gives some context for the Devils’ decision to recall third-stringer Nico Daws from AHL Utica earlier today. He will split the remaining starts with backup Jake Allen, with the latter ticketed to play Saturday against the Red Wings and Daws slated to get New Jersey’s home finale on Sunday against the Senators.
Today closes the book on a forgettable season for Markström. After signing a two-year, $12MM extension early in the season, he proceeded to put his worst numbers since first emerging as a starting option with the Canucks back in 2017-18. He managed a 23-19-1 record in 43 starts but backed that up with a subpar .883 SV%, 3.07 GAA, and a quality start percentage of just .395. His -11.9 goals saved above expected are the ninth-worst in the league, per MoneyPuck.
Of course, those aforementioned injuries certainly played a part. Markström dealt with a lower-body injury in early October, and while he hasn’t missed a game since, it’s clear now that he was never back to 100%.
Markström was a top-10 goalie in the league for a decent chunk of his prime. On the heels of back-to-back average-at-best seasons in Newark, though, there’s a chance their successor to Tom Fitzgerald in the general manager’s chair might want to move on from his pending extension, particularly with Allen still putting up serviceable numbers and Daws looking excellent in his limited NHL action over the past two years.
If so, their options will be limited. Markström has a no-movement clause until July 1. When his extension kicks in, then he’ll be immediately owed a $1.5MM signing bonus while his movement production drops to a 20-team no-trade list. That could allow for a deal; if they don’t think they’ll find one, they could buy him out during the first window in June. That would leave him on their books for the next four years, but at a reduced cap hit of $3.25MM for 2026-27 and $1.75MM for the subsequent three seasons.
He could also very well be back in the starter’s crease in the fall. If the Devils don’t feel Daws is ready for a full-time role, there aren’t any undeniable upgrades on Markström available on this summer’s free agent market.
Devils To Interview Sunny Mehta For GM Vacancy
The Devils have received permission from the Panthers to interview Sunny Mehta, one of their assistant general managers, for New Jersey’s GM vacancy, Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reports.
Florida also formally granted permission to the Maple Leafs, who Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman linked to Mehta last weekend, to speak with him. It doesn’t appear they’re denying any requests for their assistant staffers to interview elsewhere for better opportunities, something general manager Bill Zito is intent on doing after benefiting from such a practice during his days as an AGM with the Blue Jackets, LeBrun writes.
New Jersey is still in the early stages of its search for Tom Fitzgerald‘s successor. They made the decision to move on from him on Monday. TSN’s Chris Johnston said on “First Up” the following day that, much like the Leafs, they’re looking for an analytically inclined name to take over the chair.
As has been discussed with the Leafs’ interest, there’s perhaps no better name to satisfy that than Mehta. One of the biggest names in NHL clubs’ early acceptance of advanced analytics in scouting and roster decisions, Mehta’s first full-time job in the NHL came back with the Devils in 2014. After a four-year run in New Jersey during their mid-2010s rebuild, Mehta was picked up by the Panthers as a hockey strategy and intelligence analyst in 2021 before eventually being promoted to AGM under Zito two years later.
Devils Shut Luke Hughes Down For Season
The Devils have shut down defenseman Luke Hughes for their final four games so he can undergo an undisclosed surgery, the team announced Thursday.
Hughes has dealt with a variety of shoulder issues over the past two seasons. It wouldn’t be surprising in the slightest if the corresponding wear and tear required some clean-up work. The team didn’t issue a timeline for his recovery but said the reason for having the surgery now was to “get a head start on rehab for the off-season,” so it doesn’t appear his availability for next season’s training camp is in jeopardy.
Per James Nichols of New Jersey Hockey Now, the procedure is related to the most recent of those shoulder injuries, a dislocation he suffered back on Jan. 19 against the Flames. He missed the next 10 games but was back in the lineup shortly after the Olympic break without undergoing surgery. Despite that, he played some solid hockey down the stretch. Across his last 19 games, the Devils have improved, going 12-6-1. That’s been accompanied by a 1-8–9 scoring line and a +4 rating from Hughes while averaging nearly 24 minutes per night, seeing clear-cut deployment now ahead of Dougie Hamilton as their #1.
Hughes, 22, concludes the first season of the seven-year, $63MM deal he signed with the Devils near the end of training camp after spending most of last summer as a restricted free agent. Considering the $9MM price tag he held out for, New Jersey likely hoped for more production out of their new top offensive weapon on the blue line this season. He finishes his campaign with six goals, 29 assists, 35 points, and a -4 rating in 68 outings. That was good enough to lead the Devils’ defensemen but was the worst point-per-game output (0.51) of his three full NHL seasons.
The fourth overall pick in 2021, the younger brother of teammate Jack Hughes and Wild star Quinn Hughes quietly had a good run in the possession department this season. He’s prone to some high-visibility turnovers but has otherwise been a consistent playdriver from the drop, notching a 53.8% shot attempt share and 49.7% expected goals share at 5-on-5 this season, per Natural Stat Trick. That’s indicative of the quantity-over-quality approach he takes defensively, but it’s worth noting Hamilton was the only Devils defender better at controlling shot share and expected goals across the board this season.
Hughes should be able to hit the ground running again in the fall as New Jersey’s #1 lefty. For now, it will be veteran tweener Dennis Cholowski stepping into the lineup as the Devils finish out their season. They’re mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, missing the postseason for the sixth time in eight years. Cholowski was recalled at the trade deadline after Brett Pesce sustained a lower-body injury, but has been a healthy scratch in 16 consecutive games. That streak tonight will end against the Penguins. He had one assist and a -5 rating in 15 outings for the Devils in the front half of the year.
Image courtesy of Thomas Salus-Imagn Images.
Devils Head Coach Sheldon Keefe’s Future Under Evaluation
New Jersey Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe told reporters, including James Nichols of NJD Hockey Now, that his future will be evaluated at the end of the season.
The news comes as not much of a shock, as the Devils fired general manager Tom Fitzgerald yesterday, the first step in what will be more changes in store. Keefe’s contract runs through the 2027-28 season, but that hardly provides security in itself, facing what has been a disappointing year in all areas.
Widely predicted to make the playoffs comfortably back in the fall, today New Jersey sits second to last in the Metropolitan Division. It wasn’t an immediate demise, as back in mid-November they proudly held the #2 spot in the entire league, only behind Colorado. It seemed like Keefe’s club were hitting their stride, on the path to make the playoffs again under his guidance. Instead, a lot has happened since then, some worthy of fueling critics, other aspects out of the coach’s control entirely.
In just one month’s time from their strong start, the Devils stumbled all the way to 16th in the league. The fall off was kick-started by Jack Hughes’ freak hand injury which required surgery. As if losing their top scorer to a restaurant incident wasn’t frustrating enough, in December they also had an opportunity to make a monumental acquisition in Quinn Hughes, proving unable to do so. Besides the obvious affinity the New Jersey faithful have for the franchise level defenseman, striking out on such a player did the group no favors, as they only slipped further. Had they pulled it off, Keefe’s standing would be in a very different position today.
Outside of the Team USA hero’s lost time, the Devils also missed integral shutdown defenseman Brett Pesce with his own health issues. The 31-year-old has played just 37 games all year, sidelined in the fall, and currently down again with a lower-body injury. Out of his 11 professional seasons to this point, 2025-26 will mark the campaign with the fewest games played for the righty.
Often trying to work with a thinner lineup, Keefe’s efforts have not materialized, as the Devils rank seventh-worst in goals scored (218) and a -16 goal differential. Timo Meier’s performance has dipped, just 42 points in 72 games this season. It’s an issue magnified by the 29-year-old’s contract, with questionable roster construction clearly playing a part in their on-ice results.
Depth scoring has also been a factor. Stefan Noesen has found the back of the net just three times in 38 games, battling through his own injuries, either way a serious drop off from last year’s breakout 22 tallies. By no means is it realistic to blame the Devils’ woes on the late-blooming 33-year-old, but it’s further evidence that the group could benefit from a new voice.
If the end is near for the Brampton, Ontario native’s time in Jersey, Keefe’s history will likely warrant another head coaching gig, and quickly. Unlike the newly hired John Tortorella and Peter DeBoer, who waited patiently for their next undertaking, Keefe could find another job in time for 2026-27 based on a number of openings, both current and to come.
With a 294 – 164 – 50 career record, good for a .628 win percentage, the once young up-and-comer in Toronto now has over 500 games leading at the NHL level. His results have dipped a bit in New Jersey, but when looking at the adversity they’ve gone through, it’s commendable nonetheless. He’s never had a losing record, and plenty of organizations would be happy to become his third.
The Los Angeles Kings present an intriguing opportunity on paper. Even if they manage to squeak into the playoffs, interim bench boss D.J. Smith is not expected to be a long term solution. Keefe’s structured approach would mesh nicely with the Los Angeles core, a group fully intent on winning right away.
It’s certainly a long shot, but fun nonetheless to imagine the possibility of a Toronto return given Keefe’s deep-rooted relationship with the organization. Perhaps it would be an attempt to return to a time which suddenly doesn’t seem as bad after all. Of course, the Maple Leafs have their own evaluations to make behind the bench before it could even become an option.
Ahead of new possibilities to even be considered, Keefe will aim to finish the campaign strong and make his case to stick around in Newark at a desirable job through its organizational change. His Devils will finish the campaign one week from today, April 14, and news could come quickly as management weighs their options. If he does survive the general manager transition, it would be intriguing to see what Keefe could accomplish in New Jersey with a roster not battered by injuries.
Devils Fire General Manager Tom Fitzgerald
The New Jersey Devils announced that they’ve parted ways with President of Hockey Operations and General Manager, Tom Fitzgerald. He joins Brad Treliving, formerly with the Toronto Maple Leafs, as the second General Manager fired in the last week.
In the announcement, New Jersey’s Managing Partner, David Blitzer, said, “Tom and I had a thoughtful conversation today and agreed it was time to move in a new direction. Tom changed the trajectory of our team here, including setting a franchise record for points in a season and helping make New Jersey a hockey destination. He is a well-respected leader across the Devils’ organization and NHL, and I am grateful for our friendship. I wish Tom and his family all the best. As we prepare to move forward, it is important I acknowledge our fans. I recognize we have not delivered in the way you expect and deserve and I understand and share in your frustration. This is a critical offseason for our franchise, and we will explore all avenues that best position the Devils to compete for a Stanley Cup once again.”
Furthermore, Fitzgerald provided a quote, saying, “After talking with David Blitzer, it was apparent to everyone that the best course of action is to move on for the benefit of the team. I am incredibly appreciative to David, Josh Harris, and the entire New Jersey Devils organization for being a part of my life for the past decade. The Devils are fortunate to have a core of great players, vocal and passionate fans, but most importantly, tremendous people who worked with me toward a common goal. I’ve always said that New Jersey is a hidden gem and I’m proud of the effort that we put in to raise the standard and make it a destination. I look forward to the next step in my hockey career and will always look back fondly on my time with the Devils.”
Fitzgerald became the Devils’ General Manager ahead of the 2020-21 campaign after serving in the interim toward the end of the 2019-20 season. Since then, New Jersey has qualified for the playoffs only twice, reaching Round Two in the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs. Each time, they were ousted by Metropolitan Division rival, the Carolina Hurricanes.
Although some of Fitzgerald’s trades deserve scrutiny, such as trading Pavel Zacha to the Boston Bruins and including Yegor Sharangovich in the trade for Tyler Toffoli, his tenure with the Devils will be more remembered for the moves he didn’t make, rather than the ones he did.
Unlike most teams, New Jersey has legitimate top-six talent like Jack Hughes, Timo Meier, Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, and Dawson Mercer. However, whether it be through a hyper-conservative approach or something different, Fitzgerald never addressed New Jersey’s depth-scoring issues.
The team has been highly affected by injuries over the last several years, none of which is Fitzgerald’s fault. Still, by not adding additional scoring help toward the bottom of the forward corps, the Devils’ offense would completely disappear when their better players succumbed to injuries.
Last season was a perfect example. New Jersey entered the deadline without Hughes and was slowly falling down the standings. Instead of spending a little more to acquire a short-term stopgap that can move up and down the lineup like Ryan O’Reilly, Brayden Schenn, or Nazem Kadri, the Devils acquired Cody Glass, Daniel Sprong, Brian Dumoulin, and Dennis Cholowski. In his defense, Glass has been a nice find this season, but there was never an expectation that they could replace Hughes’ value by committee, and New Jersey was quickly bounced in the playoffs.
Additionally, Fitzgerald has raised a few eyebrows with the extensions given to Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen, although the latter has worked out rather well. Plainly put, Fitzgerald had six years to turn the team into a consistent contender, had the pieces to do so, and didn’t get the job done.
Fortunately, for Fitzgerald, there are already a few openings available to him, even before the end of the regular season. As previously mentioned, the Maple Leafs fired Treliving a few days ago and may seek another experienced mind to get the franchise back on track. Furthermore, the Nashville Predators, with whom Fitzgerald spent four years during his playing career, have an opening as well.
Regardless, the announcement reads as if both parties knew the writing was on the wall for some time. The next General Manager will face significant challenges, particularly in creating salary cap space in the short term and negotiating Hischier’s extension this summer. However, the Devils aren’t the worst situation in the league, and have solid forwards up front. Acquiring depth around them will be the initial focus.
Devils Recall Brian Halonen And Marc McLaughlin
The Devils have made a pair of roster moves heading into the first half of a back-to-back set against Montreal that begins tonight. The team announced that they’ve recalled winger Brian Halonen and center Marc McLaughlin from AHL Utica.
It’s the second recall of the season for Halonen, who spent nearly a month with the Devils in his first stint early in the year. The 27-year-old got into nine games during his first stint, picking up his first career NHL goal and point along with 18 hits in 7:30 of playing time per game. He was sent down right before he was set to become waiver-eligible once more after clearing at the end of training camp. Since then, Halonen has played with the Comets, collecting 19 goals and 13 assists in 48 appearances, good for second on the team in points.
As for McLaughlin, he was on season-opening IR until February and after he cleared waivers during the Olympic break, he has been with the Comets since. The 26-year-old has been relatively productive in Utica, notching six goals and seven assists in 21 games to earn this promotion. McLaughlin has seen NHL action in each of the last four years but has been limited to just 28 outings overall where he has six goals and one assist.
Both players are expected to suit up tonight. Team reporter Amanda Stein relays (Twitter link) that the two will play on the fourth line alongside Paul Cotter while Maxim Tsyplakov and Evgenii Dadonov will cede their spots in the lineup.