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Bratt Re-Signs

The wait is finally over! Jesper Bratt and the Devils have agreed to terms on a two-year contract with an AAV of $2.75 million. The announcement was made to day by Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald.

The contract is worth $5,500,000 overall and will see Bratt paid $2,050,000 in 2020-21 and $3,450,000 in 2021-22.

Bratt was someone the Devils needed to get signed. The 22-year-old forward “led the club in even-strength goals with 15 and set career highs with 16 goals and 101 shots (15.8% shooting percentage) in his 2019-21 campaign” according to the press release put out by the Devils.

Over his three-year NHL career, all with the Devils, he has 37 goals, 63 assists (100 points). Those 37 goals include five game winners. All that has come over 185 regular season games.

According to the press release, Bratt, a native of Stockholm, notched his 100th NHL point on March 6, 2020 against the St. Louis Blues.

Bratt has had his best season so far in 2017-18. He set career highs in games played (74), assists (22), points (35) and power play goals (four). The presser also notes that “he set a franchise record and is one of five players in the past 17 seasons to score 9PTS (3G-2A) in the first 2 games played of his NHL career.”

Bratt was a steal for New Jersey, drafted in the sixth round (162nd overall, in 2016. The press release notes that he was singed on May 12, 2017 and made his NHL debut against the Avalanche – where he scored his first two NHL points (one goal/one assist).

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Crawford Retires

After announcing yesterday that goaltender Corey Crawford would be taking a leave of absence for personal reasons, the Devils have followed that up with an announcement of his retirement.

The 36-year-old goalie acquired via free agency this past off-season played 488 regular season games over ten NHL seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks.

He had signed a two-year contract with the Devils, but will not have played a game for New Jersey.

Crawford thanked both the Devils and Blackhawks organizations in a statement made following his sudden retirement.

He said (as reported by Chris Wescott on the Devils app): “I have been fortunate to have had a long career playing professional hockey for a living. I wanted to continue my career, but believe I’ve given all I can to the game of hockey, and I have decided that it is time to retire. I would like to thank the New Jersey Devils organization for understanding and supporting my decision. I would like to thank the Chicago Blackhawks organization for giving me the chance to live my childhood dream. I am proud to have been part of winning two Stanley Cups in Chicago. Thank you to all of my teammates and coaches throughout the years. Also, thank you to the fans who make this great game what it is. I am happy and excited to move on to the next chapter of my life with my family.

Although he never officially played a game as a Devil, Crawford will be missed. He was such a great person around the game and getting his name on the Cup in Chicago will make him live on in NHL annals. It would have been great to see what he could have done with the Devils and Mackenzie Blackwood in particular as a mentor.

Here’s wishing him all the best in his retirement!