The Tampa Bay Lightning have issued an update on Brayden Point, announcing that the center will be out four to six weeks with an upper-body injury.
It’s not the best news for the Lightning, but it certainly isn’t as bad as it could have been either. Point was originally ruled out indefinitely after being tripped on a breakaway and slamming into the end boards. While he was able to finish that game, Point was obviously hurt and now will miss at least a month.
That means he should be back in time for the Olympics, should Team Canada take him to Beijing, and will return around the same time the Lightning are currently expecting Nikita Kucherov back from his own injury. In the meantime, others will have to step up and carry the load for Tampa Bay and keep them in an Atlantic Division playoff position.
Point, 25, has averaged 20 minutes a night through the first 16 games of the season, scoring seven goals and 13 points in that time. After leading the entire league in goals during each of the last two postseasons, there are few players more impactful to the lineup. His presence is felt all over the ice, and between him and Anthony Cirelli, the Lightning have two of the most well-rounded two-way centers in the league.
Cirelli too has been asked to play a ton already this season, including more than 24 minutes with Point out of the lineup on Sunday. That heavy load will continue now for the next while, though others will be asked to do more as well.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
The opportunity for depth players to play more key minutes and to step up will be invaluable if the Lightning are to have a chance at a third consecutive cup. Will be interesting to see if Lighting can leverage LTIR to opportunistically pick up another scorer, but I would bet on depth, first. Get mended Kuch and Pointer for the run. The rest of the guys can hold it together and grow.
I suggest the Lightning put Point on LTIR and make a trade to acquire a star player with the money saved. Then Point returns for the playoffs. Sounds like a good idea. Wonder why no team hasn’t thought of it.