"We've talked to Jesper and made him an offer, an offer that shows the commitment that (Devils co-managing partners) David Blitzer and Josh Harris have in this young gentleman for very good reasons," Fitzgerald said on the eve of the 2022 Upper Deck NHL Draft. "He's a really good hockey player that makes our team better."
The 23-year-old left wing can become a restricted free agent July 13.
Bratt set NHL career highs in goals (26), assists (47), points (73) and power-play points (18) in 76 games this season, his fifth in the NHL. He led the Devils in points, assists and power-play points, and tied Jack Hughes for the team lead in goals. Bratt averaged 17:26 of ice time per game, third among New Jersey forwards (Hughes, 19:34; Nico Hischier, 19:21).
"We don't make the offers we've made with the intention of not having the player, and we want to build with Jesper," Fitzgerald said. "Last time we negotiated (with Bratt), were they smooth? No. But not all negotiations are. At the end of the day, we want Jesper Bratt to be a New Jersey Devil for a long time."
The deadline for teams to send restricted free agents qualifying offers is July 11. On that date, RFAs can begin contract talks with rival teams. A qualifying offer is needed to retain negotiating rights to an RFA if he is given an offer sheet from a rival club. If a team does not send a qualifying offer to an RFA, the player becomes an unrestricted free agent July 13. Stipulations for qualifying offers include offering at least a one-year contract and at least 100 percent of their previous salary.
Fitzgerald did not reveal the amount of the most recent offer to Bratt, who signed a two-year, $5.5 million contract ($2.75 million average annual value) with New Jersey on Jan. 10, 2021.
"That's something that we'll keep internal," he said. "We felt very comfortable where we were with the offer and the reasons why. But that's about all I can talk about."
Fitzgerald said the Devils have never had interest in trading Bratt.
"I've never had Jesper Bratt on the trading block," he said. "I've never talked to anyone about a Jesper Bratt trade. I'm not really sure where all this comes from but it's not coming from the Devils camp."
Selected by New Jersey in sixth round (No. 162) of the 2016 NHL Draft, Bratt has 203 points (70 goals, 133 assists) in 307 regular-season games, all with the Devils, and no points in one Stanley Cup Playoff game.
