The New Jersey Devils didn’t want to take the risk of letting their talented forward Jesper Bratt test free agency. The franchise announced on Thursday that Bratt inked a new long-term extension with the team that runs through the 2030-31 NHL season.
Bratt, who was set to become a restricted free agent in the summer, will earn $63 million over the duration of the deal. With a $7.875 average annual salary, he is now the third-highest Devils’ player.
Bratt finished the 2022-23 campaign with a career-high 32 goals and a total of 73 points while playing all 82 games. His development as a scorer and reliability made the Devils’ general manager Tom Fitzgerald confident that the 24-year-old Swede is the future of the franchise.
“It was always a priority to keep Jesper Bratt here long term, and both parties are thrilled that a deal was completed,” said Fitzgerald in a statement. “I value and commend the commitment Jesper made to this organization. We believe that he is a special player and a key member of our core group of talent who will contribute towards the team’s long-term success and organizational goal of bringing the Stanley Cup back to New Jersey.”
Jesper Bratt was the Devils’ sixth-round selection in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut the following year and has since made 389 appearances in which he scored 102 goals and dished 174 assists for a total of 276 points.
