The clock is ticking on the New Jersey Devils
The clock is ticking on the New Jersey Devils
If Jesper Bratt isn't signed long-term prior to Wednesday's hearing, the Devils will find themselves in a sticky situation next summer.
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The clock is ticking on Tom Fitzgerald the New Jersey Devils. They have just two days to work out a contract that will keep Jesper Bratt in red and black for the long haul.
If they do not come to an agreement, the two sides will duke it out in arbitration.
The team can select whether the term of a contract is one or two years, according to PuckPedia.
The arbitrator can only award a 1 or 2 year contract. The party that did not elect the arbitration selects the term (if the player selected arbitration, the team selects 1 or 2 year term). Players that are only 1 year away from being a UFA can only have a 1 year contract awarded.
The Devils would undoubtedly choose one as Bratt is eligible for unrestricted free agency in 2024. They’re not going to walk him out the door.
So, regardless of how well the hearing goes money-wise, the Devils would only lock up Bratt for one year. Then they’d have to do this dance again next summer. Not ideal.
From Bratt’s perspective, a hearing is only going to keep his salary down; at least in the short term.
Arbitrators often land around the middle of the two filings. Let’s say that’s the case here and Bratt is rewarded in the ballpark of $5.3 million. That’s not nearly as much as he’d make annually if he were to work out a long-term deal.
Although it’d get him one year closer to UFA, he’d sacrifice money in the here and now – and be in this exact same position next year.
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