Filip Bratt On His Own Journey | DEV CAMP

Filip Bratt isn't worried about the shadow his last name may cast at Devils Development Camp.

"I don't mind that because he's like, he's great. He's so kind to me, he's my best friend."

Filip is the younger brother of Jesper Bratt and understands the impact his brother has made on the Devils franchise in the last few seasons, but he is embracing this as his own opportunity, regardless of his last name.

"I've been here a couple of times, but it's fun to be here and play hockey and have my own stall for once," the 20-year-old defenseman said inside the Devils' Prudential Center locker room.

The younger of the two Bratt's has been to New Jersey five times to visit his brother, even spending a Christmas in New Jersey during Jesper's first season. This time around is different, all business, with Filip arriving in New Jersey, as Jesper was flying back to Sweden.

Without his brother around, Filip is ready to show that despite not being drafted, he has the drive and skill to make an impact on his own merit. "It's really fun for me to show myself, show that I'm doing something good. I have not been drafted, but I still have an invite to camp," he said with that same infectious energy as his older brother.

Filip is a 5'10 defenseman and describes speed as one of his greater strengths, calling it the key to his game, and describing himself as more offensive. Coming to camp, despite having a vague familiarity with New Jersey itself, creates a whole new opportunity for Filip, who has spent little time playing on North American ice surfaces and rink sizes. That will be a new experience for him.

"It's going to be fun to see how my game adapts to the North American ice. I have played like one tournament when I was little on that (size ice), so it's going to be fun. But I think that it's going to fit me with my speed... I hope."

He hopes that during his week-long camp he'll be able to show to the franchise that he is capable of playing in North America, a place he said he wants to be next season, feeling like he has run his course in Sweden, ready for a new adventure. The Devils are a team that took a chance on Jesper, drafting him in the sixth round of the 2016 draft, and having gone undrafted himself he's hoping to make his own impact.

And he's keenly aware that even if he ends up in the Devils system his name may always be tied to his brother, but that may just be the greatest compliment you could pay him.

"He's my best friend, my idol and I'm on my own journey now."