Metropolitan Notes: Bratt, Blais, Drozg

The Devils have started discussions on a new contract for pending RFA Jesper Bratt, the winger told Ryan Novozinsky of the Star-Ledger (Twitter link).  Bratt added that talks haven’t progressed yet to the point of talking salary so it’s clear that a deal certainly isn’t imminent.  The 23-year-old is coming off a career year that saw him lead New Jersey in scoring with 26 goals and 47 assists in 76 games, more than doubling his previous career-high of 35 points set in his rookie year.  Bratt is arbitration-eligible and two years away from UFA eligibility and both sides have expressed a desire to get a long-term contract in place.  But with the year he just had, that type of deal would command a price tag of more than double the $2.75MM AAV he had on his bridge contract.  Arbitration hearings aren’t likely to start until early August so there is still plenty of time to get an agreement in place.

More from the Metropolitan:

• While Rangers forward Sammy Blais has resumed skating, Newsday’s Colin Stephenson relays that he will not be available for the sixth game of their series tonight in Tampa Bay. The 25-year-old tore his ACL back in November and would be a welcome addition to New York’s bottom six but he hasn’t received the green light to return just yet.  The 25-year-old had four assists and 37 hits in 14 regular season contests.
• Penguins prospect Jan Drozg is highly unlikely to be tendered a qualifying offer this summer, notes Seth Rorabaugh of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. The 23-year-old had ten points in 23 games with AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season before requesting to be loaned to another AHL team in the hopes of getting more playing time.  While he got his wish and was sent to Grand Rapids, he struggled mightily with them down the stretch.  Rather than bring him back, it would make more sense that Pittsburgh opts to let Drozg go where he’ll likely look to head back overseas.