Jesper Bratt Is Well Deserving Of An All-Star Spot

SIXTH ROUND SWEDISH GEM

Before we go into why Jesper Bratt, a top line winger for the New Jersey Devils hasn’t been in an All-Star game let’s just discuss how Bratt came to be a player 31 teams in the NHL have to watch very closely. As seen in the Overtime win against Boston in December, Bratt can go zero to sixty extremely fast. Thinking that Bratt, if invited, would have a great chance of winning the fastest skater competition is not a far-fetched idea. Jesper Bratt, number 63, was drafted not first, not at number 60, not even at 100. Bratt was drafted 162nd Overall in 2016. In 99% of these cases, this player would never reach the NHL, let alone even the AHL, but this kid was different. Here is a look at Jesper Bratt’s play to get Jack Hughes the open shot in Overtime against Boston on December 13th, 2023. Watch as Bratt scans the ice slowly and when he hits the offensive blue line he takes off, stops on a dime while spinning to float the perfect pass to Jack Hughes. After coming to New Jersey and playing with Bratt, Timo Meier said, “Playing with guys like this, like Bratt, who can make those speedy sharp turns to get the puck on my stick and evade defensemen, is what I need to succeed as a Professional.”

BRATT BY THE NUMBERS

Jesper Bratt is one of the two original players of this Devils team, along with Captain Nico Hischier. He became the first drafted Devil on the current roster to hit 300 points earlier in the season and is coming off two seasons finishing with 73 points. Currently, The Brattman (a Batman-like nickname given to Jesper) is on pace to surpass his career high and join Jack Hughes (depending on health) as one of the first two players in Devils history to score over 100 points in a season. It is quite shocking with all the names you hear over the years that have been in a red Devils uniform that not one of these players have hit 100 points in a season with New Jersey. They seem to have found a way for 2+ decades to succeed by using a strategy where the team relies on each other. It’s a legit four line forward roster where the goals are spread out between all the lines, so as a result players have fewer points personally but the team ends up with more because of it. I cannot see this happening in this era of greedy players who won’t take a pay cut (the amount of the cut would keep any of us living comfortably until our last day) to help the team be able to afford players in other positions. The most recent example of this is Nylander over in Toronto. What a shame; I remember multiple players in New Jersey, including Patrik Elias and Martin Brodeur, taking cuts so the team could fill the roster properly. It’s a great winning strategy and maybe that is why Toronto has all the woes they do. So, getting back on track here, let us take a look at Bratt’s numbers this season and maybe a few from seasons past.

• 2023-2024 to date: In 38 GP, Bratt has 14 Goals and 30 Assists, adding to 44 points
• Career (Drafted 162nd Overall) GP- 427, G- 116, A- 204, PTS 320
• 2021-2022- In 76 games, Bratt had 26 Goals and 47 Assists for his first 73 Point season
• 2022-2023- (Snubbed from ASG) In 82 GP, Bratt had 32 Goals and 41 Assists for his second consecutive 73 Point season

For now, going off the information we all have access to, Luke Hughes has received more votes than Jesper Bratt to go to the All-Star Game in the horrific fan vote portion of naming the final rosters. Bratt really should have already been voted to an All-Star game if things were done right. Last season, the Devils had multiple All-Star players but, yet again, were only given one representative in South Florida. James Nichols came out on X showing the top vote-getters for the All-Star Game and saying, “Jesper Bratt’s Absence Is A Sin”. It is nice to see a mainstream sports analyst recognize Bratt and his success.

JESPER BRATT AND MORE

To see the best of Jesper Bratt’s season, you can go on X and type in the hashtag #BrattThread. The Bratt Thread is on the account @DevilsJointX, showing the best clips of Jesper Bratt from this season and some older clips as well. Check out @DevilsJointX on X and on YouTube during the New Jersey Devils games for up to the minute replays, clips and livestreams. Devils Joint has multiple memorabilia and t-shirt giveaways this week.

Trade Winds Blowing – Inside The Rink

Join Conrad and Jayd as they kick off another season of hockey coverage on the Inside The Rink Podcast. Join us weekly as we cover the hot topics across the NHL and Minor Leagues. In this episode: – Four Nations Rosters- Waivers Gone Wild- Nichushkin Returns to Colorado- Penguins Fire Sale?& Much More!

1. Trade Winds Blowing 42:20
2. Injuries All Over 42:55
3. Goalies Getting Paid 24:16
4. It's Time To Play The Game 01:38:46
5. Sniffles – Preseason Begins 49:00