FORT LAUDERDALE — Former Florida Panthers captain Bryan McCabe has joined the New Jersey Devils as VP of Prospect Personnel and Assistant General Manager of the AHL Utica Comets, the third Panthers front-office member to depart for New Jersey since the end of last season.

McCabe, who spent 14 seasons with the Panthers in various player development roles, will report to Braden Birch, one of Florida’s top cap managers who left earlier to join new Devils GM Sunny Mehta — himself one of Bill Zito’s most trusted advisors before his departure, Florida Hockey Now reported.

Zito framed the departures as a sign of organizational health rather than a talent drain. “It’s really hard to replace people, but it’s a good thing where, hopefully, other folks will want to come thinking that ‘hey, maybe I can get a chance to grow and expand my opportunities,’” Zito said Wednesday. “It’s part of our game, and it’s part of what we’re all about. We want everyone to be successful and happy. They move along. Players do. I did. … It’s a positive thing.”

McCabe’s ties to South Florida run deep. A defenseman who played 15 seasons in the NHL — suiting up for the New York Islanders, Vancouver Canucks, Chicago Blackhawks and Toronto Maple Leafs — he was traded to the Panthers in 2008 and named captain in 2009-10. He spent parts of three seasons with Florida before ending his playing career in 2011 with the New York Rangers, finishing with 145 goals and 528 points in 1,135 games.

He remained in the organization in a development capacity and was part of the Panthers’ 2024 Stanley Cup championship. “To be part of it, it has obviously been a long time coming,” McCabe said after Florida won its first title. “My first NHL game was 29 years ago, so, yeah, a dream come true just to be a part of this whole thing with this group. This organization, making my home here, it has been very special.”

The Panthers open training camp in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday, with open practices scheduled Friday and Saturday at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Florida’s preseason begins Sunday against the Carolina Hurricanes at 7 p.m., with the 2026-27 regular season opener set for Sept. 29 at Carolina at 5 p.m. on ESPN and the home opener against the Minnesota Wild on Oct. 10 at 6 p.m.