Insider shares the latest on the Jesper Bratt trade rumors.

Last week a surprising rumor emerged when talk began to circulate about a potential split between New Jersey Devils star forward Jesper Bratt and the Devils organization. In spite of the fact that he was arguably the most important player on the Devils' roster this past season Bratt, who is set to be a restricted free agent this summer, has not come to terms with the Devils on a new contract.

That fact combined with the fact that the Devils should in theory have plenty of room to make the signing happen, the Devils currently have $25 million in projected cap space for next season, has led to speculation that a trade could be in the works. There are even those who feel an offer sheet could be forthcoming, this in spite of the fact that the Devils would very likely be able to match any offer.

On Sunday, National Hockey League insider Elliotte Friedman shared his thoughts on the situation and had a much more balanced take on the situation. Friedman began by largely dismissing the notion that Bratt could be the target of an offer sheet this summer.

"First of all I don't know if it makes a ton sense to offer sheet Jersey," began Friedman on his 32 Thoughts podcast. "I think that what you wanna do is, you wanna offer sheet a situation where you're gonna put a huge squeeze on them to be able to do things. I don't think that New Jersey is necessarily that team... I see a team with a ton of cap space and I think a desire to keep Bratt."

"I guess if you thought the ownership there was too cheap to pay the player, but I don't see that in New Jersey."

While Friedman did acknowledge that the Devils may very well have tested the market on Bratt, he indicated his belief that this may be a case of an agent and a team butting heads.

"There's something I think going on here," said Friedman. "I think that I have kind of an idea. His last contract negotiation was a tough one, both sides really grinded. I heard that was a really challenging, hard, negation and the Devils got their money's worth."

"There is a theory going around there that, knowing how hard the last negotiation was, everybody is kind of preparing for a tough one here," said Friedman. "I've had a couple of teams wonder if this is a little bit of sabre rattling. Not that the Devils don't wanna keep the player but that the Devils know that this one could be a challenge."

So if the Devils would like to keep Bratt, where does the rumor of him being shopped by the Devils stem from? Friedman had an interesting theory on that particular point as well.

"I suspect, I don't know, but I suspect that there was a negotiation earlier this year that didn't end up close," said Friedman. "And I think what the Devils did was they just said 'Ok, if we have to do this what's his value.'"

Friedman summed up his thoughts on the topic by stating that he feels talk of a Bratt trade may be going a bit too far.

"I think any talk of trading him could be premature, I could be wrong," said the insider.