New Jersey Devils pending restricted free-agent forward Jesper Bratt met with general manager Tom Fitzgerald, and the two sides are trying to make a deal work this summer, his agent told NJ.com's Ryan Novozinsky.
That sentiment echoes what Fitzgerald told the media during his end-of-season availability in early May.
"He's a big part of our future. He's a tremendous young player," Fitzgerald said, according to Devils beat reporter Amanda Stein. "We want Jesper here long term. That's my job, to work out a deal with his agent."
Bratt enjoyed a breakout season in 2021-22 and was the Devils' most productive skater with 73 points in 76 games. He also saw his role increase, playing a career-high 17:26 per contest, 1:21 more than his average time in 2020-21.
The 23-year-old just wrapped up the last season of a two-year deal with a $2.75-million cap hit and is likely due for a substantial raise. Evolving Hockey projects him to sign for four years and an average annual value of $5.6 million, but that figure can get closer to $7 million if he goes for term, according to The Athletic's Shayna Goldman.
Bratt's agent stayed mum on salary expectations, noting they will discuss those details with the Devils soon and the young star "loves" playing in New Jersey.
Bratt has arbitration rights so the Devils will have to qualify him at $3.3 million to maintain those rights, per CapFriendly. New Jersey currently has $25.3 million in projected cap space but also has decisions to make on restricted free agents Jesper Boqvist, Pavel Zacha, and Miles Wood.
Unrestricted free-agent defenseman P.K. Subban's $9-million cap hit is coming off the books, but star forward Jack Hughes' eight-year, $64-million deal kicks in for 2022-23.
Bratt has 70 goals and 133 assists in 307 career NHL games since the Devils drafted him in the sixth round in 2016.
