Jesper Bratt avoids arbitration at the last minute!

The New Jersey Devils and restricted free agent Jesper Bratt were scheduled to have their arbitration hearing at 9ET AM on Wednesday.

A few minutes before 10, the Devils announced that they had signed Jesper Bratt to a one-year deal worth $5.45 million, avoiding arbitration.

This was a matter of seconds no doubt! Earlier this week, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman had reported that the Devils were looking for $4.15 million and Bratt’s camp was allegedly looking for $6.5 million. They meet somewhere in the middle.

There is no doubt that Bratt deserved to get paid. This past season, he led the Devils in scoring, potting 26 goals and 73 points in 76 games. He’s developed great chemistry with Jack Hughes.

Bratt had signed a two-year, $5.5 million contract ($2.75 million average annual value) with New Jersey on Jan. 10, 2021.
He will once again be a restricted free agent at the end of 2022-23.

Selected by New Jersey in sixth round (No. 162) of the 2016 NHL Draft, Bratt has 203 points (70 goals, 133 assists) in 307 regular-season games, all with the Devils, and no points in just one Stanley Cup Playoff game.