NHL 2016 Draft Radar: Jesper Bratt
7 years ago
Jesper Bratt is a name that few really talk about. (Remember Jesper Lindgren from last years draft? Current Leafs prospect? Something mysterious about those mid-round Jespers). Through the luck of randomization, he’s the third one to be profiled in our prospect series, though he’s far from the third most intriguing prospect on the list. Ranked 17th in NHL Central scouting for European skaters, this Bratt kid is a bit of a mysterious one to the North American contingent.
The Eye Test
From Hockey’s Future:
For Jesper Bratt, this season was supposed to be his coming out party. Only 5’10” and 175 pounds, and a good friend to the aforementioned Kovacs, Bratt entered the pro ranks with an eye on duplicating what Kovacs did before him. It has gone exactly as planned, although the youngster with a nose for the net and a tough player to beat in the corner has spent just about all season with AIK Stockholm in the Allsvenskan having chipped in eight goals and 17 points with a +1 rating over 46 games. Still slight of frame, his ice time has come in waves and he has been gradually introduced to the pro game at various junctures. No stranger to the international stage, Bratt collected five points in five games at the aforementioned Ivan Hlinka Tournament last summer, and a total of 11 points in 13 more U18 contests.
For me, the lines like “ a nose for the net and a tough player to beat in the corner” don’t really mean a whole lot. It’s conjecture, because most scouts tend not to know a whole lot about players like Bratt. He’s a wildcard – which could go either way. I’d love to say I’m coming in with tons of insight – but if the scouts can’t give you much, there’s not tons to say about him unless you’re doing the scouting yourself.
The Stats
Bratt picked up 17 points in 48 games (8 goals, 9 assists.) playing with AIK, in the second division of Swedish hockey this past season. His career numbers are here, via Elite Prospects:
There’s no eye-popping numbers there. But there’s also no real red flags that he can’t produce.
Does he fit in with the Red Wings?
Picking a player because of their nationality is silly. Like very, very silly. But Swedish players and the Red Wings have had a unique partnership. North American drafting history under Ken Holland doesn’t inspire loads of confidence, but I do expect the Swedish scouts in the Detroit to have a higher quality of opinion on Bratt than… nearly anyone else in North America.Is he a future star? Unlikely. Can he contribute? His stats certainly show he’s capable of performing at the U18 and Swedish pro level. At the least, Bratt looks like an intriguing player to consider for a mid-round pick. Will he end up a Red Wing? Probably not, but if he does, he could turn into a decent bottom-six option wherever he ends up.
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