We are three games into the Stanley Cup Final between the Colorado Avalanche and Tampa Bay Lightning and the season could come to a complete close within the coming week. The off-season is underway for the majority of the league and everyone is accessing their next moves and where to improve. The Devils have a star winger on their hands and it is Jesper Bratt that is looking for a contract. If the Devils cannot come to terms with the player, the questions begin to rise. Do they move him? Would it be worth it for the team? Plenty of teams would be in on Jesper Bratt.
Jesper Bratt Negotiations Stalled
Rumour: Friedman and Marek talk about the delayed negotiations with Jesper Bratt and the New Jersey Devils. An offer sheet has been mentioned, but the Devils have the cap space.
Friedman & Marek talk about how the negotiations for Jesper Bratt’s last contract were really tough and both sides are gearing up for another difficult negotiation. Marek brings up the possibility of an offer sheet but EF says it doesn’t make sense here, NJ have $25M in cap space
— NHL Watcher (@NHL_Watcher) June 19, 2022
Bratt Trade Makes Little Sense for Devils
The Jasper Bratt contract negotiations have taken longer than anticipated. A Jesper Bratt trade does not make sense for the New Jersey Devils. The team has longed for a winger that could produce the way Bratt has this past season. Long gone are the days of Patrik Elias. Taylor Hall’s MVP calibre season is way in the past. Here comes the emergence of Jesper Bratt. Before this season, Bratt averaged 30 points a season which is still good. But this season he took his game to another level. In 76 games played, he scored 26 goals, 47 assists and a total of 73 points. He was a point-per-game player averaging 1.04 points per game. Bratt also averaged 3.81 points per 60 minutes.
With what the Devils and Tom Fitzgerald are building, it does not make sense to move the winger. The youthful core the Devils have built of Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Dawson Mercer, and Dougie Hamilton, also should include Jesper Bratt. Bratt has formed good chemistry with center Jack Hughes, which is not something to mess with. While playing together as a line, they had an expected goals per 60 minutes at 3.64. A player of his talents has not been in the organization for some time now, and trading him away will only set the Devils back.
Sign the Man
New Jersey Devils and Jesper Bratt are discussing a new deal.👍 https://t.co/Iak3OMTva7 pic.twitter.com/Uku2rIcg7L
— theScore (@theScore) June 11, 2022
Jesper Bratt needs a contract. It is without question that the New Jersey Devils should put pen to paper with their star winger. He fits the mold of what they are trying to build and the core that they have in place. Friedman and Marek mention the Devils have $25M in cap space. The money is there; they need to get it done. Aside from Alexander Holtz, there is not much else coming through the pipeline to replicate his production. But for a team aiming to be more competitive, parting ways with one of their best players will does not help them achieve that.
