Devils GM Sunny Mehta breaks silence on major Jack Hughes development

Jack Hughes isn't going anywhere, and Devils general manager Sunny Mehta made that clear earlier this week.

Speaking with Devils Rink Report, Mehta addressed the swirling talk about a Hughes brothers reunion and what leverage really means for players in today's NHL.

"I can't comment on Quinn. I mean, he's not our player. He plays for another team," Mehta said, closing that door before it even opened.

Jack, though, is a different conversation entirely. Four years remain on his deal, and Mehta isn't losing sleep over it.

"He has four years left. He's on a great contract. He's one of the best players in the league," Mehta said. "That is not really one I pay a lot of thought to."

Mehta isn't just accepting the deal. He says he's genuinely excited about it.

"Other than me just being super pumped that we have him on our team at his contract, there's not much to think about," he said.

Mehta bets on Jack Hughes hitting his prime years

New Jersey finished the regular season at 42-37-3, good for 87 points on the year.

They also went 5-4-1 over their final ten games, a stretch that didn't quiet any of the noise around Hughes' future.

Mehta pointed to where Jack sits in his career right now.

"I'm particularly excited now to see him at this... hitting that part of the aging curve where players really come into their own," Mehta said.

The front office backed that timeline with offseason moves, adding pieces Mehta hopes will lift the whole lineup, not just Hughes.

"Hopefully now with some of the changes we made around him, it's not just him but the whole team," Mehta said. He's banking on chemistry building through the season.