ESPN.com · Nov 25, 2018
Brayden Point emerging as Tampa Bay's most valuable player
Tampa Bay Lightning coach Jon Cooper called his young center Brayden Point into his office.
It was Game 1 of the 2018 Eastern Conference playoff semifinals back in April, and Point was in the midst of being absolutely embarrassed by the Boston Bruins' top line. Cooper had entrusted his talented 22-year-old center with the team's most important defensive test, which he had flunked to the tune of a minus-5 by the end of the game, the worst goal differential of his brief NHL career.
Maybe another coach throws a young player a life preserver, moving him into a different matchup. Maybe another player grows frustrated and despondent after an effort like that.