Devils News

Devils Jesper Bratt Turns Down World Championship Invite Due to Injury

Published

2 weeks ago

April 22, 2024

A report surfaced on Monday that New Jersey Devils forward Jesper Bratt turned down an invite to the upcoming IIHF World Championships to play for Sweden.

The report from Sportbladt stated that Bratt turned down the opportunity to represent his country as a result of “medical examinations.”

New Jersey Hockey Now has confirmed that report out of Sweden.

A team source explained to New Jersey Hockey Now on Monday that, “Following post-season medicals, it was in [Jesper Bratt’s] best interest not to play based on injury status.”

Bratt’s injury is not expected to be long-term.

Bratt played a lot of hockey this season. After falling short of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, taking as much time off to recover makes sense for the 25-year-old winger.

The Devils’ leading point collector dressed in his second consecutive season for all 82 of New Jersey’s games. That doesn’t include last spring’s 12 playoff games and his All-Star appearance this February in Toronto.

Bratt set a career-high in points in the 2023-24 season despite the Devils’ unfavorable outcome. The Stockholm, Sweden native scored 27 goals and 56 assists for 83 points, breaking his previous career high of 73 points which he reached in consecutive seasons during 2021-22 and 2022-23.

It’s certainly in the Devils’ best interest to ensure that Bratt properly recovers after he was extended last summer to a long-term, eight-year, $63 million extension.

Bratt explained he wasn’t yet ready to make a decision at last week’s exit meetings after speaking with the Devils’ medical staff on whether he was going to the World Championship tournament or not.

He further explained that the choice was between going to Czechia to play for Sweden or remaining in New Jersey to “do some things with the team.”

After concluding that Bratt won’t head to Czechia, he remains in New Jersey with the Devils organization.