Jesper Bratt's Agent Comments on Negotiations with Devils
Restricted free agent Jesper Bratt is coming off of a 2-year bridge deal that paid him an AAV of $2.75M per season. Now, at 23, he will be looking for a deal in the 5-6 year range which will allow him to cash in one more time while still in his 20's.
Bratt has met with the Devils and they're trying to make a deal work this summer. His agent said, Bratt "loves playing for the Devils," but what player or agent wouldn't say that in the middle of a contract negotiation? His agent didn't comment on the terms of any potential deal in the works, stating that it was "something that was going to be discussed soon".
From his agent's comments, it appears that the sticking point right now is the length of Bratt's next deal and once they decide on the length they will discuss salary, if/when it gets to that point. Bratt does have arbitration rights, so if a deal isn't reached before the arbitration hearing, things could get messy.
If the Devils and Bratt can't reach an extension before the draft, the Devils may look to move him and the Leafs should certainly inquire. The asking price will likely be significant for a 23-year-old winger of Bratt's skill level, but if the Leafs can sign him to a long-term deal as part of the trade, it might be worth taking a look at.
