Somehow The Tampa Bay Lightning Still Have Some Money Left So They Paid Brayden Point To The Tune Of $76 Million
Elsa. Getty Images.The only silver lining to the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup with a roster which was $18M over the salary cap was the fact that as soon as the season was over, they were going to be screwed financially heading into next season. Or so we thought.
Sure, the Bolts lost Yanni Gourde to Seattle in the expansion draft. They traded Tyler Johnson to Chicago to put Brent Seabrook's contract on LTIR. Barclay Goodrow was sent to the Rangers. Blake Coleman and Luke Schenn just left in free agency. But just when you thought it was all over for the Bolts…
Bang. An 8-year extension for Brayden Point with a $9.5M AAV cap hit. So now that's 3 more seasons with Stamkos, 4 more seasons with Hedman, 6 more seasons with Kucherov, 7 more seasons with Vasilevskiy, and 9 more seasons with Brayden Point all locked up under contract since Point's extension doesn't begin until after this year. So as far as the core in Tampa goes, these maniacs still have the window wide open for years to come. Which is insane considering it seemed like they'd have to blow the whole thing up like a month ago.
What a payday for Brayden Point. It's not like he was making pennies on his bridge deal or anything. His current contract was for 6.75. But for a 3rd round pick to play a major role on a back-to-back Stanley Cup dynasty roster, come just one game shy of tying an NHL record for the longest playoff goal streak, and then toss his Herbie Hancock on a $76M contract? In Florida with no state income tax, no less? Unreal. Great day for Brayden Point, and horrific day for anybody who is sick of the Tampa Bay Lightning being so dominant.