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New Jersey Devils News

The Devils have added Jesper Bratt to the active roster.

Bratt has cleared COVID-19 protocol and has been added to the added roster, which clears the way for him to make his season debut on Thursday. It seems likely that Bratt will replace Nick Merkley in the lineup since Merkley was sent to the taxi squad in a subsequent move. Bratt has three straight seasons of 30-plus points, scoring a career-high 16 goals with 16 assists (32 points) in 60 games last year.

Jesper Bratt
Markstrom will start Tuesday vs. the Maple Leafs.

Markstrom allowed three goals on 32 shots in the Flames loss to the Maple Leafs on Sunday. Since his opening night loss in Winnipeg, Markstrom has gone 2-1-0 while turning aside 86 of the 91 shots (.945 SV%) that he's faced in his last three games. Tonight he gets a rematch vs. a Toronto team that has won four of their last five games while scoring 2.80 goals per game.

Jacob Markstrom
Allen will make his Canadiens debut Monday in Edmonton.

Allen served as Carey Price’s backup in the first two games of the season but will make his Canadiens debut Monday in Edmonton. There are easier matchups than facing Connor McDavid in your debut but he is 5-2-0 vs. Edmonton in the last three seasons. The 30-year-old is coming off of a 12-6-3, 2.15 GAA and .927 SV% in 2020, so he is one of the most reliable backup options in the NHL.

Jake Allen
Markstrom will start Monday vs. the Canucks.

Markstrom stopped all 32 shots that he faced in the Flames’ shutout win over the Canucks on Saturday. It was Markstrom’s first win with the Flames and an impressive showing vs. his former team. He will get another chance tonight but the Canucks should be a little more dangerous with J.T. Miller returning from the COVID-19 reserve list.

Jacob Markstrom
Markstrom will start the Flames season opener in Winnipeg.

Markstrom had one of the best years of his career in a contract year, earning a six-year deal in Calgary. He went 23-16-4 with a 2.75 GAA and .918 SV% in 43 games last year and is expected to be a workhorse for the Flames this season. In his debut, he'll face a Jets team that was 17th in GoalsFor (3.00) and 15th in PP% (20.5) in 2020.

Jacob Markstrom
The Devils have signed Jesper Bratt to a two-year contract worth $5.5 million ($2.75M AAV).

Bratt was the Devils' last remaining unsigned RFA but got a two-year deal on Sunday night. Bratt set a new career-high in goals (16) while adding 16 assists (32 points) in 60 games a season ago. Bratt will miss the start of the regular season but is expected to be in the Devils top-6 when he makes his debut.

Jesper Bratt
Hischier (leg) will not be ready for the start of training camp.

Hischier suffered a leg injury while training in Switzerland and will not be available for the opening of training camp. Hischier did not have surgery and the Devils do not consider it a long-term injury. The fourth-year centre could be ready for the start of the season but may get out of the gates slowly with a limited training camp.

Nico Hischier