The fact that Jesper Bratt is only the seventh most important person in the New Jersey Devils organization speaks to how deep this franchise has become over the years.
Bratt has a claim to be known as the greatest draft steal in the history of the franchise. He was taken in the 6th round (162nd overall) in the 2016 NHL Draft. Now, he is one of the best wingers in the NHL. Some injuries contributed to this, but Bratt led the Devils in scoring last year with 83 points in 82 games. His 27 goals only trailed Timo Meier (28) for the team lead.
Bratt is a versatile forward who can do it all. He is responsible in his own end but can create offense in many different ways. He can be used in all situations no matter what the score is.
The New Jersey Devils are going to be using Jesper Bratt a lot in 2024-25
He will either be on a line with Jack Hughes or Nico Hischier no matter what. Those two have completely different playstyles, but Bratt can play with either one of them. That is not something most players on this team can say.
New Jersey has high hopes in 2024-25 and their scoring depth is a big reason why. Bratt is a star player on the team who is going to be amongst the leaders in that department.
Off the ice, Bratt is a major selling point to the European fanbase. He is one of the best Swedish players in the world. That is important, with the Four Nations Faceoff coming next in 2025 and the Olympics in 2026. The Devils will be well-represented there.
At just 26 years old, he is one of the keys to this team's long-term puzzle. If they are going to win the Stanley Cup or at least come close with their current core, you know that Bratt will have played a big part in it.
With a healthy roster around him this year, you may see him reach another level that we have yet to see. That is saying something because he's been everything they ever needed from a 6th round pick and more. The sky is the limit for him going forward.