Pucks and Pitchforks
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New Jersey Devils: 12 Gifts From Team This Christmas Season

By Nick Villano

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 29: NJ Devil of the New Jersey Devils celebrates during the mascot showdown prior to the 2017 Honda NHL All-Star Game at Staples Center on January 29, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 29: NJ Devil of the New Jersey Devils celebrates during the mascot showdown prior to the 2017 Honda NHL All-Star Game at Staples Center on January 29, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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NEWARK, NJ – DECEMBER 23: Jesper Bratt
NEWARK, NJ – DECEMBER 23: Jesper Bratt /

Gift #9: Jesper Bratt’s Breakout

Jesper Bratt was drafted sixth in last year’s draft by the New Jersey Devils. No, I’m not talking about sixth overall, he was drafted as the sixth-round pick for the Devils.

Can you name the last Devils sixth-round pick to ever make it to the NHL? I’ll wait.

It was Deryk Engelland way back in 2000, and he didn’t play one minute in red and black.

Bratt, on the other hand, made the NHL just one year after he was drafted. Not only that, but he’s been great.

He has 10 goals and 13 assists in his first year in the big leagues. This, after he fought tooth and nail to make the roster in the preseason. He scored five points in four games and was a ridiculous +6 in those games.

Bratt is tied for fifth among rookies for points. That’s a gift in itself, but his all around play has been astounding. He was so good that coach Hynes put him on the first line with no hesitation when Palmieri went down. It was as if nothing had changed. He’s only 19 years old. That’s insane.

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