Jesper Bratt will not play in the New Jersey Devils' season opener
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The New Jersey Devils will be without one of their best young forwards when they open the season against the Boston Bruins next Thursday.
And, no, I’m not talking about Nico Hischier, who is nursing a foot injury (although it is possible he will be out, too). I'm referring to RFA winger Jesper Bratt.
Despite months upon months upon months to come to an agreement, the Devils and Bratt’s camp remain at an impasse in contract negotiations.
This is not a situation where the two sides aren’t talking, according to Bratt’s agent Joakim Persson. They just haven’t been able to reach common ground; “(we) have been communicating over a long period of time and still no agreement in place for Jesper Bratt.”
It is January 5th and the Devils open their season on the 14th. Many have suggested time is running out if the Devils wish to get Bratt signed and in the lineup vs Boston. Well, that ship has unfortunately sailed.
Persson confirmed to me Bratt will not be in the lineup on opening night. Persson didn’t offer a further timeline – that’s obviously tough to do when an agreement could be reached this week, or a month from now – but did confirm everyone’s biggest fear: this is going to cost Bratt game time.
Just how much action Bratt misses remains to be seen but, if the Devils really are serious about being a competitive this season, they best get something done sooner than later.
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Honestly I think this is a poor reflection on Fitz. He has been good up to now. I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt on this one and say MGMT is being cheap. Bratt will not sign for Miles Wood money and I have a feeling that Is where they are trying to get him locked up on a bridge. Bratt should have been a priority. I remember hearing Marty B in an interview a few years after Parise left for Minnesota and he thought the RFA years with Parise should have been handled differently. He was somewhat insinuating that he felt if Parise was handled different during his RFA years he would still be there. They gotta treat these kids better while they have control
Over them. They have the ability to make their own choices in their prime.
Well this sucks. But we must be mindful of the internal budget