You can get Point for 8.5 AAV on a 5 year deal, if you are talking 8 years, you start with Eichel money.

No state tax will make him take less. I don't see him making more than Kucherov either.

If I’m Point I say the “internal cap structure” is BS. You look at comps around the league.
8x10, 5x8

The question/issue for Tampa is .. does a team in NHL think Point is worth a 1st round pick 2nd round pick and 3rd round pick and a salary $8.5Mish or more? That is the main question .. not what Tampa wants... they will react to that question ..

That is where I think 5 years 8.5Mish AAV comes from .. which is not a bridge .. if Tampa wants to go Eichel and Marner .. then it 8 years $80M plus .. Point is 2 way center all star 92 pts. Etc.. to ME .. and that the question to each is own and it only takes ONE team to give OS .. he more valuable than a "winger" hence the Eichel contract and proceas comp is most relevant .. as I think he worth those 3 picks .. particularly for good team drafting late in rounds

Also .. Kucherov had little over HALF the points Point had at 23 .. no all star .. and not a center .. was 3 years ago .. THAT a bridge case ..not Point

In talking with Point and his agent Gerry Johannson during the season, a few key points came into play. Point’s main priority is staying (and winning) in Tampa Bay, which would require him making it work in Tampa Bay’s cap structure. They’re open-minded when it comes to contract length. That doesn’t mean Point won’t look for the best deal, but there will have to be compromise on both ends to make this work long-term.

“It’s about winning, taxes, quality of life, and where you want to be,” Johannson said. “Players ultimately want to do what they want to do. I always say, ‘The best deal is not always the most money, the best deal is the best deal.” https://theathletic.com/973302/2019/05/13/what-will-brayden-points-next-lightning-contract-look-like/

It does not always only come down to the mere number printed on the contract. Other things come in play too.

What you are forgetting is that the player has to agree to the offer sheet. Why in the name of God would you leave a team that is gonna be a contender for the next 5+ years, located in one of the nicest places in the US that also happen to have tax benefits and one of the best structures for training in the whole NHL? Would you really throw all of this out the window for some more coins? Most of the players would not.
Tampa still is in a position of power in these negotiations IMO

But Tampa has to sign the player at same terms.. minus no trade clauses .. players union would freak if that not the case.. more likely scenario is trade the player.. if Point does get offer sheet you know where the trade parameters start.. like Carolina did last year .. again the driver here is the offer sheet ..

Point will be signed prior to July 1 anyway.

It's called being a professional athlete and take market contract .. to not do that .. at age 23 is moronic and malpractice and fill in the blank .
One bad concussion and Point is pumping gas .. recall Derek from Youngblood? .. again I am assuming you are young and ... take the money when you can. PERIOD.

That is not how it works. As Gerry Johansson (Brayden Point agent) said: “It’s about winning, taxes, quality of life, and where you want to be,” Johannson said. “Players ultimately want to do what they want to do. I always say, ‘The best deal is not always the most money, the best deal is the best deal.”

Wow .. please tell me you have job where sales people call on you .. you would be the easiest sell on the planet .. Calling Thorton Melon .. we have our investor in the widget factory in fantasyland

Again, you are just talking in circles now.

"It's called being a professional athlete and take market contract" where is the market contract with Stamkos 8.5? Where is the market contract with Hedman 7.875? Where was the market contract with both Kuch bridge and Kuch 9.5? What about back then when both Palat and Johnson bridged at 3.33M?

You may have not payed attention in the last 3 years, but Yzerman and the superstars on our team set a culture.
Again, I'll just copy-paste a bit of the article I linked if you scroll up:
Many Lightning players have said that former Lightning GM Steve Yzerman built a culture that’s still there today – buy-in to keep the team together, starting with Stamkos’ re-signing in 2016 for less than he could have gotten on the open market.

“Part of the culture that we have here in Tampa is kind of that team-first mentality, and if you want to keep a good team together, guys are going to have to make little sacrifices along the way,” Stamkos said. “Whether that’s in terms of money or term or ice time or role on the team.

“That was something that — it’s kind of non-negotiable on this team, in terms of doing whatever it takes to help us keep the core together and keep being a productive team. That message was pretty loud and clear early when Steve got here and established himself as a GM, and continued to be that way.”

Oh, and I can't wait for you to start talking about how Stamkos should be traded and he isn't worth of being on our team.