UNIONDALE, N.Y. – Brayden Point is the exception to the rule for Tampa Bay Lightning prospects.
Since 2010-2011, the first full year under the ownership of Jeff Vinik who brought in Steve Yzerman as the general manager, the draft and development model has been strictly adhered to. As former Tampa Bay assistant general manager Pat Verbeek told me one time, "Nobody ever says you left a player in the minors too long, it's always you brought them up too soon".
That's the philosophy the organization has adhered to for 10 years and they do not waver from it. Any player that is eligible to play in th...
