New Jersey Devils sign Jesper Bratt to 8-year, $63 million extension

The New Jersey Devils have signed pending restricted free agent Jesper Bratt to an eight-year, $63 million contract. 

The deal carries an annual cap hit of $7.875 million. Bratt, 24, is coming off a one-year deal that was worth $4.5 million per season. 

Bratt bet on himself with a one-year deal last summer and delivered a career year with 32 goals and 73 points in 82 games. 

Signing Bratt removes one of the potential bigger pieces that could have been moved this offseason. The Devils offloaded Damon Severson, widely considered one of the best defencemen available this offseason, in a sign-and-trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets. 

The Devils next big RFA dealing will be with in-season acquisition Timo Meier, who has a $10 million qualifying offer because of the contract structure of the deal he signed with the San Jose Sharks before the 2019-20 season.