Brayden Point Bio
Brayden Point is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who plays for the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Lightning selected Point in the third round, 79th overall, of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, and he has developed into one of the league’s most reliable two-way forwards. Standing 180 centimetres tall and weighing 79 kilograms, Point plays a quick, skilled game built on speed, vision, and a heavy shot. He has won the Stanley Cup twice with Tampa Bay and has consistently been among the team’s top scorers.
Point grew up in Calgary, Alberta, and sharpened his game in the Western Hockey League before turning professional. Known for his quiet demeanour and consistent production, he has become a central figure in the Lightning’s contending rosters since the late 2010s.
Early Life and Background
Brayden Point was born on 13 March 1996 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He grew up in a hockey-oriented household alongside his older brother, Riley Point, who also pursued the sport. The brothers developed their skills in the youth system of the Canmore Eagles, a junior program in Alberta where Riley also played. Brayden’s early environment immersed him in the rhythms of competitive Canadian hockey and helped lay the foundation for his future career.
Point’s talent emerged early, and by his mid-teens he was considered one of the top young players in western Canada. He represented Canada Pacific at the 2013 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, where he served as an alternate captain and finished fifth overall. The following season, Point continued to impress in major junior circles, demonstrating the offensive instincts and poise that would later translate to the professional level.
Path to Hockey
Point entered the Western Hockey League after the Moose Jaw Warriors selected him in the first round, 14th overall, of the 2011 WHL Bantam Draft. In his first full season with the Warriors, he recorded 24 goals and 57 points across 67 games, signalling the arrival of a high-end prospect. He was later chosen in the fifth round, 167th overall, by Traktor Chelyabinsk in the 2013 KHL Junior Draft, although he remained in North America to continue his development.
During his NHL draft year, Point led the Warriors in scoring with 36 goals and 91 points in 72 games. His performance earned him a spot in the 2014 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game, and NHL Central Scouting ranked him 31st among North American skaters. Tampa Bay selected him 79th overall in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. Point returned to Moose Jaw for the 2014–15 season and again led the team in scoring, which led the Lightning to sign him to a three-year entry-level contract on 26 March 2015.
Brayden Point Career
Early Career (2015–2016)
After signing with Tampa Bay, Point spent the remainder of the 2014–15 season with the Lightning’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, recording two goals and two assists in nine games. He also appeared in two scoreless postseason contests. Point returned to the Warriors for his final major junior season and tallied 35 goals and 88 points in 48 games, cementing his reputation as a complete, offensively gifted centre.
Following a strong training camp, Point was named to Tampa Bay’s opening night roster for the 2016–17 season. Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman publicly endorsed the decision, and captain Steven Stamkos also praised Point’s readiness. On 11 October 2016, Point was officially announced as a member of the opening night roster, marking the start of his NHL career.
NHL Breakthrough (2016–2019)
Point made his NHL debut on 13 October 2016 in a 6–4 win over the visiting Detroit Red Wings. Two days later, he recorded his first NHL point, assisting on Valtteri Filppula’s game-winning goal against the New Jersey Devils. On 18 October 2016, Point scored his first NHL shootout goal on his first attempt against the Florida Panthers’ James Reimer, becoming the 27th player in league history to score in a shootout before his first regular-season goal. He recorded his first NHL goal on 5 November 2016, redirecting a Nikita Kucherov slap shot past Cory Schneider in a 4–1 win over the Devils.
An upper-body injury in late December 2016 sidelined Point for several weeks, but he returned on 31 January 2017 and was later named the NHL’s Third Star of the Week on 10 April 2017. In 2018, Point was selected to the NHL All-Star Game for the first time, replacing an injured Victor Hedman. He made his playoff debut on 12 April 2018 and finished his first postseason with seven goals and nine assists for 16 points in 17 games. In November 2018, Point recorded a natural hat-trick in 1 minute and 31 seconds against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the sixth-fastest three-goal burst in NHL history. He closed the 2018–19 season with 41 goals and 51 assists for 92 points in 79 games.
Tampa Bay Lightning Era (2019–Present)
On 23 September 2019, Point signed a three-year, $20.25 million extension with the Lightning, the same day he revealed he had undergone hip surgery to repair a torn labrum. In the 2019–20 season, he posted 25 goals and 39 assists for 64 points in 66 games before the season was paused. During the 2020 playoffs, Point became a central figure in Tampa Bay’s run to the Stanley Cup. On 11 August 2020, he scored the winning goal in the fourth-longest game in NHL history, a quintuple-overtime victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. He also produced a five-point performance in the Eastern Conference Final, setting a franchise record, and led the league with 14 playoff goals while adding 19 assists for 33 points as Tampa Bay won the Stanley Cup on 28 September 2020.
The Lightning repeated as Stanley Cup champions in 2021, with Point contributing 14 goals and nine assists for 23 points in 23 games. On 28 July 2021, he signed an eight-year, $76 million extension with Tampa Bay. Subsequent seasons included a shoulder injury in 2021–22, a torn quad in the 2022 playoffs, and a 51-goal, 95-point performance in 2022–23 that placed him second on the team in scoring. On 10 October 2023, Point played in his 500th career NHL game, and he led Tampa Bay in goals during both the 2023–24 and 2024–25 seasons.
Driving Style and Strengths
Point is recognized for his quick release, intelligent puck distribution, and reliable two-way play. His ability to generate offence from the middle of the ice has made him a key trigger man on Tampa Bay’s power play. Equally important is his discipline, as evidenced by his low penalty minutes, which led to Lady Byng Trophy finalist selections in both 2022–23 and 2024–25.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Point’s signature moments are his Stanley Cup-clinching goal in the 2020 Finals, his quintuple-overtime winner against Columbus in 2020, and his franchise-record five-point playoff game in the 2020 Eastern Conference Final. He reached his 200th NHL goal on 23 February 2023 and played his 500th career game on 10 October 2023.
Brayden Point Career Wins
Brayden Point has built a championship-calibre resume in the NHL, highlighted by back-to-back Stanley Cup victories with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020 and 2021. He has consistently ranked among Tampa Bay’s top scorers and has served as a driving force in the team’s most successful playoff runs.
NHL Highlights
Point’s NHL accomplishments include 200 career goals, two Stanley Cup championships, and two Lady Byng Trophy finalist selections. He led the 2020 and 2021 playoffs in goal scoring, the 2020 playoffs in points, and has been a top-five point producer on the Lightning in multiple seasons. His first NHL goal came on 5 November 2016, and his most recent consistent production included 42 goals and 82 points in 77 games during 2024–25.
Other Wins and Performances
Point also excelled in international competition. He won a gold medal and was named MVP at the 2013 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, captured bronze at the 2014 IIHF World U18 Championships, and earned gold with Canada at the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championships. He added a silver medal at the 2017 IIHF World Championship.
Brayden Point Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Brayden Point is the younger brother of Riley Point, who also played for the Canmore Eagles. The brothers shared the ice for four games when Brayden was a call-up, and their shared background in Alberta’s junior system helped shape his development as a player.
Personal Life
Point continues to reside in the United States while playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning. He has generally kept his personal life private, focusing public attention on his on-ice achievements.
2025 Season Performance
Entering the 2025 season, Brayden Point remains a centrepiece of the Tampa Bay Lightning’s offensive core. His 2024–25 campaign featured 42 goals and 40 assists for 82 points in 77 games, including only seven penalty minutes, the fewest among top-50 league scorers, and a second Lady Byng Trophy finalist selection. His continued scoring touch reinforces his value to a Lightning team balancing veteran leadership with younger talent.
The Lightning’s 2024–25 playoff run ended in the first round against the eventual Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, a setback that will likely fuel off-season adjustments. Point’s combination of goal-scoring and discipline gives Tampa Bay a steady presence in the middle of the lineup heading into the new season.
As the Lightning regroup for 2025–26, Point is expected to remain one of the team’s primary offensive drivers. His history of postseason performance, including leading the playoffs in goals in both 2020 and 2021, positions him as a key figure in any push back toward championship contention.