Brayden Point and Dryden Hunt; a rivalry for years to come
Posted 2:10 PM ET | Comments 1
Two Western Hockey League teammates that led their team in scoring this past season and their futures as NHL rivals.
Brayden Point has gained a lot of attention since being selected 79th overall in the 2014 NHL entry draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning. Point was called a "hidden gem" by many around the hockey community after he burst onto the prospect scene in 2013-14 when he posted a boisterous 91 points in 72 games for the WHL’s Moose Jaw Warriors. He followed that up with a great 2014-15 effort, posting 38 goals and 87 points in 60 games for the Warriors.
This past year he has moved on from being a "hidden gem" after being named captain of Team Canada at the World Junior Championships, putting him under the spotlight.
Dryden Hunt was an unknown by most until his arrival in Moose Jaw from the Regina Pats. He surged onto the scene in 2015-16 with 58 goals and 58 assists for a total of 116 points, enough for second most in the league.
The 20 year old landed an entry level contract with the Florda Panthers this February; however it went under the radar due to the trades they made at the deadline. It is fitting the way things unfolded, because much of Hunt's career has been under the radar.
Dryden was awarded the WHL Player of the Year; finally earning the recognition he deserves. The ultimate goal of course is reaching the NHL. The Panthers wasted no time signing him to an ATO with their AHL affiliate in Portland making his dream closer to fruition.
His counterpart was not to be outdone as Brayden was the only junior player selected by Tampa Bay to be a "Black Ace". The "Black Aces" are players usually called up from the AHL to practice with the team as they make their playoff run. This makes Point available to make his NHL debut if the Lightning have injury troubles.
The next chapter of this story will be written when both stars fight for NHL roster spots this fall on rival teams.
Brayden Point has gained a lot of attention since being selected 79th overall in the 2014 NHL entry draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning. Point was called a "hidden gem" by many around the hockey community after he burst onto the prospect scene in 2013-14 when he posted a boisterous 91 points in 72 games for the WHL’s Moose Jaw Warriors. He followed that up with a great 2014-15 effort, posting 38 goals and 87 points in 60 games for the Warriors.
This past year he has moved on from being a "hidden gem" after being named captain of Team Canada at the World Junior Championships, putting him under the spotlight.
Dryden Hunt was an unknown by most until his arrival in Moose Jaw from the Regina Pats. He surged onto the scene in 2015-16 with 58 goals and 58 assists for a total of 116 points, enough for second most in the league.
The 20 year old landed an entry level contract with the Florda Panthers this February; however it went under the radar due to the trades they made at the deadline. It is fitting the way things unfolded, because much of Hunt's career has been under the radar.
Dryden was awarded the WHL Player of the Year; finally earning the recognition he deserves. The ultimate goal of course is reaching the NHL. The Panthers wasted no time signing him to an ATO with their AHL affiliate in Portland making his dream closer to fruition.
His counterpart was not to be outdone as Brayden was the only junior player selected by Tampa Bay to be a "Black Ace". The "Black Aces" are players usually called up from the AHL to practice with the team as they make their playoff run. This makes Point available to make his NHL debut if the Lightning have injury troubles.
The next chapter of this story will be written when both stars fight for NHL roster spots this fall on rival teams.
Great blog, definitely two pretty good kids who have flown under the radar long and will one day compete in the battle of the sunshine state. Keep up the good work!