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New Jersey Devils: Jesper Bratt is Cleared to Play

By Vincent Parise

BERN, SWITZERLAND - OCTOBER 01: #63 Jesper Bratt of New Jersey Devils skates during the NHL Global Series Challenge Switzerland 2018 match between SC Bern and New Jersey Devils at PostFinance Arena on October 1, 2018 in Bern, Switzerland. (Photo by Robert Hradil/NHLI via Getty Images)
BERN, SWITZERLAND - OCTOBER 01: #63 Jesper Bratt of New Jersey Devils skates during the NHL Global Series Challenge Switzerland 2018 match between SC Bern and New Jersey Devils at PostFinance Arena on October 1, 2018 in Bern, Switzerland. (Photo by Robert Hradil/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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Jesper Bratt got off to a scorching hot start last season early on. He almost took the spotlight off the New Jersey Devils first-overall pick Nico Hischier. He scored in his NHL debut and continued his hot start all the way through December.

It was clear that he wouldn’t be sent back to his junior squad after the 9 or 41 game marks. Then, after January came around, he struggled quite a bit, becoming a healthy scratch every few games or so.

He wasn’t a liability defensively, he just didn’t produce as much offensively. That is to be expected for rookies sometimes, but he could definitely get back on track. The talent is clearly there.

A 6th-round pick in 2016, #162 overall, it was by no means a guarantee that he would ever even make it to the NHL. He had 13 goals and 22 assists in 74 games in 2017-18. Those 35 points ranked 7th on the team that made the postseason last year.

Coach John Hynes confirmed on Thursday afternoon that Bratt has been cleared to play and he will suit up against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday. He practiced on the second line with Marcus Johansson and Brett Seney on Thursday.

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Last season, he played a good portion of the season with Taylor Hall and Nico Hischier. As of right now, it is hard to see them breaking up the big line of Taylor Hall, Nico Hischier and Kyle Palmieri.

Bratt injured his jaw during training camp right before the regular season began in his native country of Sweden. This was devastating news for just about everyone, because everyone was so sad to see him have to miss the once in a lifetime opportunity to play an NHL game in his home country.

Devils fans should not expect Bratt to light the world on fire and fix all of the woes that the team has experienced over the last few days. But what they can expect however, is a good offensive player that is another year older, and likely very hungry to get in the lineup and prove some people wrong. A realistic expectation for Jesper Bratt is a 15-20 goal pace accompanied by a 35-40 point pace. It depends on his own personal production on top of how well his line mates play.

Bratt will be in the lineup against the Toronto Maple Leafs, and one should expect at least from the beginning, that he plays right wing on the second line.

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