New Devils Management Makes Utica Comets a Clear Priority
Sunny Mehta and Braden Birch have reshaped the Comets roster with a wave of additions and departures in a matter of weeks.
The Utica Comets have undergone a dramatic overhaul since Sunny Mehta took over as New Jersey Devils general manager. One of Mehta's first moves was replacing Comets GM Dan MacKinnon with Braden Birch, signaling a shift in how the organization views its AHL affiliate.
Mehta made his intentions clear during a July 2 media availability. "When I got here and talked it through, even with ownership, David Blitzer and I talked about what are some of the things we really want to focus on," Mehta said. "He himself brought up Utica also. That needs to be something that we make more of a priority, that we think more about in terms of both not just the success of that organization in terms of wins and losses, but just also in terms of player development."
The roster transformation has been swift. According to thehockeynews.com, the Comets have overhauled the roster with a wave of additions, departures, and re-signings in recent weeks. Among the key additions are forwards Amadeus Lombardi and Ben Steeves, both on NHL contracts. Lombardi, 23, spent last season with the Grand Rapids Griffins, while Steeves, 24, led the Charlotte Checkers with 23 goals and 45 points last season.
The departures included Angus Crookshank, who led the Comets in goals and ranked second in points last season. Defenseman Calen Addison and forward Dylan Wendt were not tendered qualifying offers.
Mehta emphasized that the Devils now view their NHL and AHL rosters as interconnected. "On the screen, when we put up our NHL roster, we've got the AHL roster right next to it, and we're thinking of it all as one big thing," he said.
The Comets' home opener for the 2026-27 season is scheduled for October 10 at the Adirondack Bank Center.
This story was written and fact-checked from these sources.
