New Jersey Devils: 5 Players Who Could Be This Year's Jesper Bratt

New Jersey Devils: 5 Players Who Could Be This Year’s Jesper Bratt

MONTREAL, QC - SEPTEMBER 21:New Jersey Devils left wing Jesper Bratt (63) celebrates with teammates after scoring during the third period of the NHL preseason game between the New Jersey Devils and the Montreal Canadiens on September 21, 2017, at the Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by Vincent Ethier/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post via Getty Images) /

4. Tariq Hammond

This one may not be falling under the radar like Bratt was last year, since Tariq Hammond is an offseason signing, but nobody really expects him to make the team out of training camp. After spending four years at the University of Denver, he signed with the New Jersey Devils. Maybe he heard good things from his former teammate Will Butcher, but it was still a success that the Devils brought another champion defenseman in the room.

Hammond plays the type of defense that’s hard to define on paper. He isn’t going to score even five goals, but he will prevent a ton. He stands 6’2, so just about the perfect size for a defenseman. He has enough movement to succeed, but leaves some to be desired there. He’s there to stop goals.

As we know, we would all love a player who can stop goals. He’s older than most players on this list (24), but still isn’t close to his prime. He has room to grow, and he could grow in the NHL.

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