Jesper Bratt causes trouble at even strength and on the man advantage
Jesper Bratt is a difference maker for the Devils. No one can replace Jack Hughes, but what Bratt does for the team is special. He has continued to grow each year, showing how underrated he is. This season, he broke the Devils’ franchise single-season assist record. He hit a new career high for points in a season with 88, also making him the Devils’ leading scorer this season.
Bratt is one of just two NHL forwards who reached 80 points and 90 hits this season. In four games against the Hurricanes this year, Bratt led the Devils with seven points. Beyond points, his speed will give the Canes some trouble.
A key element of the Devils’ game is how strong their power play is. But with how good the Hurricanes’ penalty kill is, it’s going to be tough for the Devils to break through. This is where Bratt comes in. He had 34 points on the power play during the regular season, with 30 of them being assists. This put him in the Top 10 in the NHL in power-play points for the 2024-25 regular season. The Devils need Bratt to find those opportunities.