The New Jersey Devils avoided arbitration with restricted free-agent forward Jesper Bratt after signing him to a one-year deal worth $5.45 million on Wednesday.
Bratt's salary arbitration hearing was scheduled for Wednesday morning. The 24-year-old will again be a restricted free agent once his new prove-it pact expires.
The winger's cap hit is slightly above the mid-way mark between the arbitration filings from himself ($6.5 million) and the Devils ($4.15 million), according to The Athletic's Arpon Basu.
The Swedish product enjoyed quite the breakthrough season with New Jersey in 2021-22, logging a career-high 26 goals and 47 assists to lead the Devils with 73 points in 76 games.
Bratt's underlying numbers from this past season also stood out. New Jersey controlled a team-high 59.1% of the high-danger chances, 53.9% of the shot attempts, and 56.9% of the expected goals with Bratt on the ice at five-on-five, according to Natural Stat Trick.
Among Devils skaters to play at least 500 minutes at five-on-five, Bratt's 3.36 expected goals for per 60 minutes were the best on the team.
Bratt, the team's 2016 sixth-round draft pick, has 203 points in 307 career NHL contests.
The Devils have two more unsigned restricted free agents remaining in forwards Miles Wood and Fabian Zetterlund. The franchise has just under $3.3 million in remaining cap space, according to CapFriendly.
New Jersey will again try to push up the standings next campaign after finishing seventh in the Metropolitan Division with a record of 27-46-9. The Devils have missed the playoffs for four straight seasons.
