New Jersey Devils: Jesper Bratt Must Produce For A Full Season
By Nick Villano
New Jersey Devils rookie sensation Jesper Bratt was the surprise of the team’s season. However, he went from scoring machine to healthy scratch towards the end of the season. He needs to put together a full campaign this year.
Jesper Bratt was one of many surprises on the New Jersey Devils last season. He was an after thought coming into the preseason. Actually, let’s go even before that. He was a surprise when he signed a three-year deal in May 2017. Prior to that, he scored six goals that season in the Swedish league. It seemed like he needed a lot more development before he was ready to make an impact, if ever.
Bratt was coming to North America with the likelihood he would play somewhere in a minors league.
Then, Bratt came out like a bat out of Hell during the preseason. In four games, he scored two goals, three assists and was a ridiculous +6. (I know it’s a flawed stat, but there’s a reason we still calculate it. It tells something.) His amazing preseason led to him getting a shot in the big leagues.
Let’s fast forward. He was amazing in October, November and December. He went into the New Year with 24 points, and it looked like he would only get better. He was playing on the first line with Nico Hischier and Taylor Hall, who was about to go on a 26 game point streak. It looked like he was a lock to hit 50 points in his first season.
Let’s fast forward again. He ended the regular season with 35 points. Bratt was only in the lineup for one game of the Tampa Bay Lightning series that ended the Devils’ season.
So, next year Bratt needs to avoid falling off a cliff like he did. Prior to last season, Bratt’s most taxing season had him playing 48 games. Last season, he played 74. That’s with John Hynes taking him out of the lineup towards the end of the season.
Next year, Bratt needs to prove he’s better than the sixth-round pick. He needs to continue his progression to being a full-time NHL winger. Not only does he need to do that for himself, but the Devils sorely need him right now.
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Things could change, but as the roster stands right now, Bratt is a very important cog to this team. At right wing, the Devils have Kyle Palmieri, Stefan Noesen, and… Joey Anderson? Kurtis Gabriel? The cupboard is bare when it comes to the right side. That’s why the Devils need Bratt to make a run. If they can slot him on the second line next to Pavel Zacha and Marcus Johansson, then the Devils could have a legitimate top six. If he fails to live up like he did in the second half, then the Devils need a better plan.
Bratt’s full season ceiling is not far off from where he ended up. If he could just add 15 points to his season total, getting him to 50 on the season. Scoring 18 goals with 32 assists is just fine for a second-line player. If Johansson can put together a full season without concussion issues, and Zacha can live up to his potential, we could have a lethal line on our hands.
That’s a lot of ifs. In fact, we could call the Devils second like the “IFS” line. There are so many questions that need to be answered with these lines. With Bratt, he’s still just 19 years old. He has plenty of time to figure out what went wrong. In the meantime, he needs to hone his skill and become a great winger.