Transformation Underway: A Look at the 2026 Offseason
Jul 7, 2026Utica, NY – The hiring of Sunny Mehta and Braden Birch has already sparked significant change as the Devils and Comets retool their lineups and prospect pool ahead of the 2026-27 season.
Mehta, who was hired by the Devils this past spring, has shown a vested interest in the Comets so far in his early tenure as General Manager. Supported by Devils’ Assistant General Manager/Comets’ General Manager Braden Birch, the duo has manufactured some exciting changes which are reason for excitement looking ahead to the upcoming season.
So far this offseason, 10 new players have been signed or acquired via trade who are expected to suit up for the Comets this upcoming season. At this time last summer, only two new players had been added to the roster and two summers ago, that number was three. Not only has there been a dramatic increase in transaction activity, but some serious skill has been added to the roster. Amadeus Lombardi and Ben Steeves, both on NHL contracts, are two of the highly touted forwards that have made their way to the Devils’ organization. Lombardi, 23, just wrapped up his third pro season with the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL) and finished with a career-high 42 points (16g, 26a) in 47 games. The skilled centerman was second on the team in assists and finished tied for fourth in points. Steeves, 24, spent this past season, his second full professional campaign, with the Charlotte Checkers (AHL) and led the club with 23 goals and 45 points as well as nine power play goals.
One of the biggest moves for Utica last summer was the Devils’ acquisition of Angus Crookshank, who led the Comets with 24 goals this past season. While Crookshank will certainly be missed, any concern of a decline in scoring production should be quelled by the arrival of players like Lombardi and Steeves, who were among the top scorers for their respective clubs last year, as well as AHL signings like Gabe Klassen and Jeremy Wilmer.
The other key metric at play is development. The Comets have developed some impressive players over the last few years and with Mehta and Birch now running the show, that trend is only expected to increase. One of the top players to come out of Utica has been defenseman Simon Nemec who rose to full time NHL status this past season. The Slovakia native was drafted by New Jersey in the first round (2nd overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft and played parts of three seasons with the Comets. His rookie season, in 2022-23, was spent entirely in the AHL in which he recorded 34 points (12g, 22a) in 65 games. The following season, he suited up in 60 games with the Devils while registering 19 points (3g, 16a) and 13 games with the Comets, tallying eight points (2g, 6a). And in 2024-25, he appeared in 27 and 34 games for the Devils and Comets, respectively.
Goaltender Nico Daws has also been knocking on the door of becoming a full-time NHLer since joining the pro ranks. Thanks to the support of the Comets’ coaching staff, namely Goaltending Coach Brian Eklund, Daws has maintained his identity as a number one goalie in the AHL and has continued to showcase his potential as an NHL-caliber goaltender. His contributions in Utica have been immense, and this past season, he set a new franchise record for wins (56) and shutouts (6). The German-born netminder has earned call-ups to the Devils each of the last three seasons, and with the trade of Jacob Markstrom to Florida, the door may be open for Daws to see more time in a Devils’ uniform this season.
Another key prospect in the Devils’ pipeline is defenseman Seamus Casey. The 22-year-old has seen action in 16 games with New Jersey over the past two seasons while racking up eight points (4g, 4a) and if it wasn’t for mid-season injuries each of the last two years, he likely would have gotten more time on the NHL blue line. The Florida native was also nominated as an AHL All-Star each of the last two seasons, but due to his injuries, was unable to attend the event either year. When healthy, Casey has proven to be a top-tier AHL player with 37 points (4g, 33a) in 59 career games. As a confident puck-carrier and a reliable quarterback on the power play, the 2022 second-round pick remains high on New Jersey’s radar and is poised for a big season ahead.
Another former second-round pick that has been on a development fast track is forward Lenni Hameenaho. Fresh off his rookie season, the Finland native started the year in Utica and totaled 26 points (10g, 16a) in 37 games with the Comets. About halfway through the year, he earned a call-up to New Jersey and would register eight points (2g, 6a) in 33 games with the Devils. The 21-year-old quickly proved to be one of the AHL’s top players this past season and is shaping up to be a core piece of the Devils’ future.
The Comets showed an impressive push in the second half of the 2025-26 campaign, nearly snapping a two-year playoff drought. Despite the disappointment, the fact that Mehta and Birch have already affected change demonstrates that they value player development in Utica, and a deeper prospect pool not only means a more competitive Comets’ team but will likely translate to sustained success for the NHL club in New Jersey. It is clear that a transformation is underway and the future for the Comets looks bright.