New Jersey Devils: Possible Scenarios After Jesper Bratt’s One-Year Deal
Earlier Wednesday morning, the New Jersey Devils announced that they re-signed star winger Jesper Bratt to a one-year, $5.45 million contract extension. This extension announcement came minutes after the 9 a.m. deadline when arbitration was supposed to begin. This is a fairly decent end to the Bratt saga that lasted all summer.
As much as I would have liked a long-term extension, it never seemed that Bratt wanted one. Another big point of this extension is that Bratt will still be an RFA next season, so this dance between Joakim Persson and Tom Fitzgerald can continue next summer as well. Let’s look at the possible outcomes of this extension.
Long-term Deal
Yes, this is still on the table. One outcome that could arise is that Bratt and the Devils agree to a long-term deal. While I find this unlikely, The Devils might need one more year of consistency from Bratt in order to feel comfortable offering him a 6 or 7-year deal.
With this current extension, the earliest a long-term deal can be discussed is in January 2023. If Bratt is having another stellar season, the front office might be satisfied. However, this option has a lot of risks attached to it. What if Bratt prices himself out of Newark? What if he wants $9+ million when he would have taken $8 million this season? These are the questions Fitzgerald must answer.
Another Round?
Bratt and the Devils could repeat this summer by having talks that last almost the entire offseason. This would be problematic for the Devils, as Bratt would have even more leverage than he has now. If he has two good years of production, he could just ask for a one-year deal to head to UFA status in 2024. This option also lowers his trade value in the case that the Devils feel that an extension cannot be done. All in all, this is the worst scenario of the three.
Trade at the deadline
The final option is that the Devils trade Bratt at the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline. If talks continue to be sour, it might be in the best interest of the Devils to get as much value for Bratt as possible. Perhaps a Pasternak (assuming he’s unsigned) swap could make sense? It is, however, hard to imagine that the Devils would receive comparable value to Bratt, as he was arguably the best player on the Devils last year. Stars get traded at the deadline all the time and frequently for a lesser value.
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In conclusion, there are a plethora of options for both the Devils and Bratt to explore. While a multi-year extension is not on the table, it almost feels like the writing is on the wall. I hope that both parties can find a common ground that leads to Bratt staying in New Jersey for the foreseeable future. Bratt is a player that is rare to find, a speedy, young winger who can create for others and score himself. The Devils must try to keep him.