New Jersey Devils: Which Line Is Best For Jesper Bratt?

Pavel Zacha-Nico Hischier-Jesper Bratt

This pairing has been together a lot over the last two years. Over the last three seasons, Bratt and Hischier have played 587 minutes together at even strength according to Natural Stat Trick. It would have been even more if Hischier didn’t lose most of last season due to injury. This season, they’ve played just 119 minutes together, and they have a better CorsiFor Percentage together than they have away from each other. They are driving play 56% of the time, and they are getting a ton of really good chances. They had 33 high-danger chances against 15 high-danger chances against.

The issue here is really just luck. Despite having twice as many high-danger chances for, they have allowed three high-danger goals against while scoring just two high-danger goals together. Meanwhile, Bratt has been getting a ton of high-danger chances without Hischier, but the same can’t be said for the captain. Hischier is close to even in high-danger chances for and high-danger chances against, while the Devils have been giving up as many such goals at even strength. Bratt has 19 high-danger goals for without Hischier, and he has just 10 against.

This would be a fine pairing, especially when it comes to getting Pavel Zacha back on a scoring streak, but the reason issue here is what the Devils do without them on the ice at even strength. With Nico Hischier and Jesper Bratt both on the bench, the team gives up 35 high-danger goals while only scoring 25 such goals. When looking at goals in general, it’s even bleaker. The Devils have given up 61 goals at 5v5 with Jesper Bratt and Nico Hischier both off the ice. They give up a goal every 18 minutes of ice time when they are both on the ice. They give up one every 21 minutes when either is on the ice.

The Devils can’t afford to have both these players on the same line because it takes away from the impact they both have on both sides of the ice. They are both so careful with their chances, and they have been getting better at positioning. This is one line Bratt should steer clear of barring injury.