There have been some incredibly famous NHL players taken in the sixth round of the NHL Draft. Brett Hull became a Hall of Famer after the Calgary Flames took him in the sixth round. Despite being the literal son of NHL great Bobby Hull, Brett Hull fell in the draft due to a perceived lack of focus and athleticism within the game of hockey. Pavel Bure, Pavel Datsyuk, Mark Stone, and Swedish superstar Daniel Alfredsson are some of those greats who were steals in the draft.
New Jersey Devils star Jesper Bratt is quickly joining those ranks. Bratt just had his 500th career game in a win againt the Seattle Kraken on Friday night. As is becoming the norm, he directly contributed to the scoreboard. He put up a goal an assist, something he's done for three straight games (he actually had a goal and three assists against the New York Rangers on Monday).
These eight points in the past three games moved Bratt up the scoring list for sixth round picks. As of this writing, only 30 players in the history of the league have scored more points than Bratt after they were taken in the sixth round. Bratt is four points away from 400. Once he hits that, he'll pass Matt Cooke and Mike McPhee and sit 29th in history. Barring injury, Bratt should easily pass former Devils defenseman Marek Zidlicky for 27th on the list.
Coming into the 2016 NHL Draft, Bratt had an interesting prospect profile. Analysts loved much of his offensive game, including his skating ability and shooting. However, there was one quality that was consistent across all scouts. Bratt was a boom-or-bust player. He'd either be great or flame out.
Jesper Bratt continues to inspire overlooked prospects to see they can become stars.
We saw what happened after the Devils drafted Bratt. He worked incredibly hard in Allsvenskan (Swedish league) to get ready for the pro game. Bratt surprised many when he signed his professional contract after the 2016-17 season, but the surprises would keep coming. Bratt was the best player at that year's prospects challenge, and that's where the buzz began. Many wanted to see what he did in training camp and the preseason, but most expected him to be a Binghamton Devil when it was all said and done.
Instead, he came into training camp and looked like one of the most dynamic players on the roster. At times, he outshined Nico Hischier, who was the first-overall pick, and Will Butcher, who was the star rookie signing out of the University of Denver. Bratt finished the preseason with five points in four games, with two 5v5 goals and two 5v5 assists.
Bratt made the roster out of training camp, and he really helped them make an impact. However, he wasn't without adversity. He had trouble with consistency his first three seasons, and both John Hynes and Lindy Ruff considered making him a healthy scratch or benched him in big moments. Bratt chose to take this as a growth lesson instead of sulking.
This is a player who all players can learn lessons from. Bratt has been every kind of player. He's been one built on speed, one that had to win with his motor, a shooter, a passer, and a penalty killer. He's been someone who had to overcome crazy odds and hear many people criticize him, including those within the fanbase. His contract negotiations were hard and did a number on his reputation at the time.
Today, Bratt is not only a star, but he's beloved by both the fanbase and the media. He's considered one of the most underrated players in the National Hockey League. His 37 points is tied with Connor McDavid for seventh in the league. Pairing him with Jack Hughes puts him on one of the best lines in the league, even if they are paired with Ondrej Palat.
Everything about Bratt's career is an inspiration. As he looks to play the next 500+ games of his career, we'll learn even more lessons about how to be great in hockey. We have to remember that Bratt is just 26 years old, and he won't turn 27 until the summer. He's at the very beginning of his prime, and he could be this good for another 5-7 years. And we're lucky as Devils fans to be able to see it in real-time.