New Jersey Devils’ 2025-26 Report Cards: Jesper Bratt

The New Jersey Devils’ 2025-26 season was a whirlwind of unpredictability, featuring no shortage of injuries, instability, and scoring slumps. Despite making a decent push at the very end of the season, they were unable to secure a postseason spot. Finishing the season 42-37-3, the Devils are looking to have an active offseason as they try to take another step toward becoming a serious Stanley Cup contender.

All season long, every player on the roster contributed one way or another, with some making a greater impact than others. This installment focuses on Jesper Bratt, who once again proved himself as an elite winger and remains one of the Devils’ most consistent scorers.

2025-26 Performance

Everyone knows there’s no shortage of talent on the Devils’ roster, but Bratt has another facet of his game that sets him apart: reliability. Whether the team was muddling their way through injuries or experiencing offensive lapses, he was still finding ways to score. With 22 goals and 49 assists, he finished the season second only to Jack Hughes in points.

This marks Bratt’s ninth season with the club, making him the longest-tenured player on the team alongside captain Nico Hischier. But what’s even more impressive is that 2025-26 was his fifth straight campaign with 70 or more points. He was also one of five players to suit up for all 82 games this season.

Bratt began October at an explosive pace, earning 13 points in 11 games. From there, he was a catalyst for the Devils’ offense, with eight goals and 23 assists before the new year. He even had the chance to represent Sweden at the 2026 Winter Olympics, tallying one assist across four games.

Following the Olympics, Bratt’s performance for the remainder of 2025-26 was even more outstanding. Not only did he round out the season with 30 more points, but he also recorded seven multi-point games, including a goal and four assists in a 7-3 victory over the Washington Capitals in April.

Some statistics from Natural Stat Trick help put his impact into perspective. In total, Bratt was on the ice for 101 Devils’ goals this season, with a shots for percentage of 61.70. Likewise, he was individually responsible for 354 shot attempts, 74 hits, and 85 high-danger scoring chances. Once more, he stood out as a top-notch left wing.

Impact for the Devils

No one could have predicted that the player the Devils selected 162nd overall in 2016 would become such an important part of their franchise. But Bratt continues to set the bar higher each season, leaving many to wonder if he’ll be officially named an alternate captain before the start of next season. He certainly deserves the title, with Ondrej Palat out of the picture following a trade to the New York Islanders.

But much of Bratt’s success can be traced back to Hughes — and vice versa. Together on a line, their chemistry created countless scoring opportunities for the Devils. Dubbed by the fanbase as “PB&J,” they’ve become a dynamic duo, boasting a 62.58 expected goals percentage (xGF%) and a 64.91 scoring chances for (SCF%) this season. In over 900 minutes of ice time, they’ve helped generate 70 goals, 30 of which were scored in high-danger scenarios.

It’s PB&J Showtime! pic.twitter.com/gzmMDyYGWm

— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) April 11, 2026

Bratt’s elite combination of speed, puck transitioning, and offensive awareness makes him a threat at both ends of the ice. He has become a crucial piece of the Devils’ top six and has already left his mark on the organization.

Currently, he ranks fifth overall in points among all Devils’ players and is expected to climb even higher before his time in New Jersey comes to a close. He even broke the single-season assist record in 2024-25 — a title held by former Devil Scott Stevens for over three decades. Now that the team is committed to becoming a fierce competitor in the Metropolitan Division, they’ll look to Bratt as a key leader.

Future in New Jersey

Bratt’s incredibly cap-friendly deal is yet another asset for the Devils. Negotiated by the late Ray Shero, the eight-year contract has a cap hit of $7.875 million and will expire at the end of the 2030-31 season. 

The value he brings to the team is immeasurable, and the Devils will certainly need his skill as they seek to make the playoffs on a consistent basis. No matter where he is on the ice, Bratt has the ability to shift the momentum of a game with his agility and exceptional metrics at even strength. 

He’s also been dependable in terms of his near-perfect game streak. Within the past four seasons, he’s missed only a single game, which is invaluable to a team that always seems to be dealing with various injuries. All in all, Bratt has been an impressive player throughout his time in New Jersey, and he’s expected to keep up his high point production for many seasons to come.

Overall Grade

Even while the team dealt with various struggles throughout the season, fans could rely on Bratt to drive the Devils’ offense. Following a solid performance, his overall grade for the season is an A+. 

His scoring may have stalled at times, but he still finished near the top of the club in both assists and points. Looking ahead to 2026-27 and beyond, there’s no denying that he will lead the Devils in their quest for redemption. And in terms of his elite skill level, there isn’t a winger more capable of guiding them toward success than Bratt.