Dom Lunardo | September 26th, 2019
With the NHL season set to embark in just six days, the Tampa Bay Lightning ensured that star forward, Brayden Point would be in the lineup come puck drop. After an extended off-season and some uncertainty and concern regarding Point’s status in 2019, both sides were eager to get this deal out of the way. Let’s take a closer look at how both the player and team reached an agreement.
Team: Tampa Bay Lightning
Career Statistics: 229 GP 91 Goals 107 Assists 198 Points +/-: +49
Contract: Term: 3 Years Average Annual Value: $6.75M Total: $20.25M
Instant Analysis: When you first look at the deal, you’d think that Lightning GM Julien BriseBois committed highway robbery for one of the most talented young forwards in the NHL, coming off a 92-point season in 2018/19. Although the term is a 3-year “bridge” deal, this is a phenomenal piece of business for both the Lightning and Point. With an all-important cap hit of $6.75M, the Lightning are able to keep their roster intact and should be on course to compete once again at the very top of the Eastern Conference. Alongside Point will be the likes of Steven Stamkos, Victor Hedman, Nikita Kucherov, Andrei Vasilevskiy, Ryan McDonagh, and Mikhail Sergachev.
One could make the argument that the current contract signed by Brayden Point, hand-seal and delivered by the Tampa Bay Lightning, is one of the biggest “steals” in the NHL. In the RFA class of 2019, and names in play such as Mitch Marner, Matthew Tkachuk, Brock Boeser, Mikko Rantanen, and Charlie McAvoy, the contract signed by Brayden Point is one of the best we’ve seen in terms of length, dollar amount, and actual structure. After a shocking and disappointing end to the 2018/19 at the hands of Columbus Blue Jackets during the first round of the playoffs, both Point and the Lightning will be chomping at the bit to get started in a weeks time. One of the best RFA targets is now locked and loaded in a Tampa Bay uniform, and Bolts fans from around the U.S. and Canada can officially rejoice!
Check out our other RFA Reports: Mitch Marner | Charlie McAvoy | Brandon Carlo
Questions and comments?
thescorecrowsports@gmail.com
Follow Us on Twitter @thescorecrow
Follow Us on Reddit at u/TheScorecrow
Follow Us on Facebook at The Scorecrow
Follow Us on Instagram at The Scorecrow
Facebook Group where you can read and post articles at The Scorecrow
Reddit Group where everyone can post without fear of being banned at The Scorecrow
Follow Dom Lunardo on Twitter @TapetoTape88
Main Credit Image: [getty src=”1125751044″ width=”594″ height=”396″ tld=”com”]
