Devils Add Jessica Campbell and Bryan McCabe to Player Development Staff

The New Jersey Devils are continuing to reshape their hockey operations department under general manager Sunny Mehta, adding two experienced professionals to their player development staff.

New Jersey announced Wednesday that it has hired former Florida Panthers executive Bryan McCabe as vice president of prospect personnel and assistant general manager of the Devils’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Utica Comets, while former Seattle Kraken assistant coach Jessica Campbell will join the organization as manager of player development.

These additions give the Devils two people with extensive experience developing young players and working within NHL organizations. Their hiring also completes New Jersey’s development staff, which will focus on the continued advancement of the organization’s prospects and young NHL players.

Jessica Campbell Joins Development Department

Campbell spent the previous two seasons as an assistant coach with the Seattle Kraken, becoming the first woman to serve as a full-time assistant coach behind an NHL bench during the regular season when she was hired in July 2024. In April, she stepped down from Seattle’s coaching staff to explore other opportunities.

Before the NHL, Campbell spent two seasons as an assistant coach with the Coachella Valley Firebirds of the AHL. During both seasons, the Firebirds reached the Calder Cup Final.

Campbell also has international coaching experience. She worked as an assistant and skills coach for the Nürnberg Ice Tigers in Germany’s top professional league during the 2021-22 season and was also an assistant coach for Germany at the 2022 IIHF World Championship.

Before working behind the bench, Campbell was an accomplished player. She played four seasons at Cornell University, serving as captain during her senior season, before playing professionally with the Calgary Inferno and later the Malmö Redhawks. At the international level, she represented Canada at multiple tournaments and won gold at the 2010 IIHF Under-18 World Championship, where she led the tournament in scoring with 15 points and earned the Most Valuable Player award.

This is a significant hire for the Devils, as Campbell has proven herself to be an accomplished and knowledgeable coach and player-development specialist. Her extensive experience working with players at both the professional and international levels will make her a valuable addition to New Jersey’s development staff.

Devils Add Bryan McCabe to Front Office

McCabe brings more than a decade of front-office experience with the Panthers to New Jersey. The 51-year-old spent the last 14 seasons with Florida, beginning as a player development coach in 2012-13 before moving into increasingly prominent roles within the organization. During his time in the front office, McCabe was part of an organization that had three consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearances and won championships in 2024 and 2025.

McCabe will have responsibilities extending beyond New Jersey’s prospect pool. In addition to serving as vice president of prospect personnel, he will work as an assistant general manager for the Utica Comets.

His experience also extends far beyond the front office. McCabe played 15 seasons in the NHL as a defenseman, appearing in 1,135 games and recording 528 points (145 goals, 383 assists). He also represented Canada internationally, winning gold medals at the 1994 and 1995 World Junior Championships and the 1997 World Championship. He also represented Canada at the 2006 Winter Olympics.

McCabe’s combination of NHL playing experience and 14 years in Florida’s player development and personnel departments gives the Devils another experienced voice.

Another Piece of Mehta’s Front Office

The hires also continue Mehta’s efforts to bring familiar voices from his time with the Panthers into the Devils organization. McCabe is now the third former Florida executive to join Mehta in New Jersey, following assistant general manager Braden Birch and director of goaltending Leo Luongo.

With the organization adding two experienced development specialists, New Jersey has further strengthened the infrastructure surrounding its young players. For a Devils team that has made significant changes throughout its hockey operations department this offseason, McCabe and Campbell represent the latest additions to a revamped development structure under Mehta.