Our Bureau
Sunrise, FL
As the Florida Panthers demonstrate remarkable consistency in the National Hockey League, conversation has shifted beyond their physicality to shine a spotlight on the analytics engine built by Assistant General Manager and Director of Analytics, Sunny Mehta.
Florida’s sustained success isn’t just a product of high-octane system—it also reflects a scientific mechanism that has data as a core tenet. With such a high degree of focus on data related to games and team players performance, Florida have discovered a perfect recipe of success with a winning combination of analytics and great hockey minds.
Mehta, who pioneered analytics in the NHL as the New Jersey Devils’ first Director of Hockey Analytics, became Florida’s VP of Hockey Strategy in 2020 and he was elevated to his current roles in September 2023. His presence has quietly anchored roster decisions—supporting moves like acquiring Tkachuk, Reinhart, and Verhaege—turning Florida’s front office into a competitive powerhouse, a transformation celebrated by fans.
The Florida Panthers captured their first-ever Stanley Cup on June 24, 2024, defeating Edmonton Oilers 2–1 in a thrilling Game 7 in Sunrise, Florida. The Florida Panthers retained the Stanley Cup by beating Edmonton Oilers again, 5-1 in Game 6 of the final match on June 18, 2025.
Mehta’s analytics blueprint remains a central theme in discussions about the Florida’s consistency. Whether fans are pro or skeptical of analytics, Florida’s data-driven approach—tempered by traditional hockey instincts—has resonated across the league. Mehta’s integration of metrics into everyday hockey operations might very well be the next frontier in modern NHL management.
