When asked about the decision-making process that resulted in forward Tanner Jeannot receiving a multi-year contract on the opening day of NHL free agency, Don Sweeney was quick to respond.
An NHL team can benefit from having a player with Jeannot’s brutal style on the ice, particularly if they are in the bottom six.
However, the Bruins decided to make a big commitment to the 28-year-old winger in a free-agent market full of aggressive forwards ready to drop the gloves and hammer puck carriers at a deep discount.
a contract of $3.4 million per season for five years.
The winger was expected to sign a two-year contract with a $1.42 million annual cap cost, according to AFP Analytics, which caused a stir in the hockey community.
Jeannot’s value has decreased in terms of his output down the other end of the ice, even if his reputation as a heat-seeking rocket is still valid at this point in his career.
Jeannot has only scored 20 goals in the last three seasons, averaging just 6.7 goals annually, after scoring 24 goals over 81 games during a breakout 2021–22 season.
Given the influx of other bottom-six skaters that Boston signed on Tuesday (Sean Kuraly, Mikey Eyssimont), signing a long-term contract with a player like Jeannot looked excessive for a Bruins club whose biggest weakness from the previous season was their inability to score goals.
Tanner Jeannot, a muscular low-event depth winger who was signed by BOS for five times for $3.4 million, punishes opponents who attempt to use the puck.YWKs vs. 03Zs #NHLBruinspic.twitter.com
Sweeney considers a number of variables when deciding whether to sign a player with Jeannot’s profile, particularly on a long-term contract.
The younger, more talented players who we intend to add in the future, in my opinion, will require some breathing room. According to Sweeney, Tanner will bring a lot of that. The room itself, his leadership abilities, and the way he gets ready for the game, in my opinion, all contribute to what we need to keep becoming better at. and assistance as well.
Particularly, David [Paastrnak] and Charlie [McAvoy] are taking on leadership roles. They have served as assistant captains and other similar positions, but being a top-tier player in the National Hockey League and meeting the demands of that position require a lot of work. Adding more players who can offer outlets and relief in that way, in my opinion, is crucial to the success of the club.
It’s unclear how Jeannot will be able to produce enough to justify his contract, even though his leadership and off-the-ice qualities will be valued on a Bruins team that plans to add younger players in the coming years.
Replicating that 2021–22 season, when the 6-foot-2 forward appeared to be Tom Wilson’s second coming (24 goals, 310 hits), is the simplest way to achieve that.
Even though Jeannot is much needed on a Bruins squad that only has Elias Lindholm, Morgan Geekie, and Pastrnak as their top six players, Sweeney conceded that it might be asking too much for him to achieve those same baseline outcomes.
I’m not sure if he’s returning to his 27-goal pace. “I really hope so,” Sweeney remarked. We secretly hope that he would infuse our organization with the much-needed vigor. There is the physicality. We pass through a challenging division. I simply believe that everyone grows a bit taller.
I think Tanner’s complement will be helpful if we move on with what we’ve attempted to do from a draft viewpoint, keeping that in mind as well as presenting those young guys with whom we hope to be infusing skill.
Regarding Jeannot’s reputation as a battering ram, the findings are in.
The Saskatchewan native has received 1,083 hits in the previous five seasons. Over that lengthy run of games, only Brady Tkachuk, Garnet Hathaway, and Keegan Kolesar have delivered more smacks to opponent players.
Jeannot thinks he can tug on the rope in a number of ways to assist his club on both ends of the rink, even if his offensive output doesn’t peak in 2025–2026.
To put their colleagues in a difficult situation, Jeannot, I try to make other men aware that I’m on the ice and make them feel uneasy. Perhaps this helps them get rid of pucks a little faster. That usually results in more turnovers and gives my team a chance to get the puck more frequently. I am capable of adding that kind of element to a line.
Resetting the culture, urgency, and sandpaper approach that have been ingrained in the Original Six franchise for years appears to be the Boston team’s top priority in the NHL ranks, as the dust settles from the Bruins’ uninspiring free-agency spending spree.
However, it’s unclear if those same abrasive ideals will serve as the cornerstones for Boston’s efforts to establish a new core and create a window of sustainable contention.
According to Jeannot, that is the kind of club that is extremely difficult to defeat if they can perform consistently throughout the season and into the playoffs. It only weakens opposing teams. It is anticipated that teams will not want to play against us. They know it’s going to be a struggle when the Boston Bruins visit town.
It has always been like way. That’s the culture of the Boston Bruins. As a player, I believe I’ve always made an effort to represent that kind of culture. That’s why I’m so excited to see that place. I’d like to play a significant role in that. It’s an extremely exciting period, and it plays a significant role in that culture and the success of this club.
Since 2023, Conor Ryan has worked as a staff writer for Boston.com, covering the Boston Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox.
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