Brayden Point: Stopping at the Net
When I started watching the 4 Nations and Canada’s first game last week, I honestly thought the perfect linemate for Connor McDavid would be someone like Brayden Point. Yes, I understand there are players similar to Leon Draisaitl in terms of actual speed like Crosby, Mark Stone, Sam Reinhart, and even Mitch Marner in that mix. I think that tandem really works well with one another in Edmonton, where Draisaitl is on the opposite end of the spectrum in terms of things that McDavid does, more so in skating and movement.
When you look at wingers who fit the speed of McDavid, MacKinnon is probably that second best option. However, Brayden Point was initially a player I wasn’t expecting to slot in with McDavid, as I expected Point to stick to more of the center role that he is used to under Jon Cooper in Tampa. Clearly, Point on a line with McDavid has worked wonders at 5v5 for Canada in terms of matching speed, matching pace, and similar levels of hockey sense at that speed.
When you dive deeper into the tandem, Point and McDavid together really is perfect, because then you can separate Nate MacKinnon and slot him in as a secondary option for another big line instead of loading up the two. Brayden Point matches the intensity, pace, and decisive decision-making that McDavid brings regularly, which makes the average level player slightly more difficult to play with McDavid.
Point always finds a way to catch up to McDavid too, which allows for more direct small area passing sequences between the two, and Point is really good at moving into soft space with ease.
Look at how Point catches up to this sequence as the late F3 into the zone, a situation where a slower player would have a much more difficult time getting to and catching up to. Point takes advantage, and him being the late wave of pressure in the O Zone with speed gives him an advantage to sprint to the net and stop at the net in a timely fashion.
Point, staying in line with the strong side F1 (McDavid) and the weak side D in the O Zone (Sanheim), is able to stay in position between the two and be able to be both a pass option and shot option simultaneously. Point gets in line using his speed and first few steps to sprint to space and support the line rush effectively here.
Sanheim shoots the puck, and the rebound goes right to Point in the slot, where Point is able to maneuver on his backhand and tuck this puck into the back of the net.
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