Jesper Bratt was just fine in the playoffs

While the Devils could've used more production, the problem certainly wasn't a lack of opportunities.

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Jesper Bratt is taking a lot of heat for his playoff performance. In a vacuum, it makes some sense. He did not produce enough.

Winning a round without consistent production, as we saw, is possible. But winning two, three, or even four, is not at realistic with one of your best players struggling to find the scoresheet.

That being said, the general perception of Bratt’s play feels harsh. He didn’t fail to produce because he played poorly or couldn’t create offense inside the perimeter, which I have often seen suggested. Quite the contrary, in fact.

The Devils were significantly better than their opponents with Bratt on the ice. They won the high-danger chance battle 57-27 and Bratt posted the highest xGF (63%) on the team, according to Evolving-Hockey.

Bratt wasn’t a passenger along for the ride. He played a big part in driving the offense and helping garner those strong numbers.

He attempted 41 shots (3rd on the team) and generated 17 high-danger chances at 5v5. He also assisted on 41 attempts, which was more than all but Jack Hughes (44).

Bratt averaged 6.83 shot contributions per game at 5v5, not far off from where he was in the regular season (7.36) when he produced just under a point per game.