At the 2023 trade deadline, the Lightning paid top dollar to acquire Tanner Jeannot from the Predators.
Julien BriseBois parted with a first-round pick (2025), a second-round pick (2024), a third-round pick (2023), a fourth-round pick (2023), a fifth-round pick (2023)… And he also sent Cal Foote to Nashville in the same transaction.
That’s huge for a player who just finished the campaign with 14 points in 55 games.
The Lightning need to create space on their payroll, which is why Elliotte Friedman said in a recent episode of his podcast that Jeannot could leave Tampa this summer.
The big forward earns an annual salary of $2.665 million and his contract expires at the end of next season.
Tony Marinaro weighed in on the subject in his BPM Sports column of the day, and in his view, the Habs could be interested in Jeannot’s services because he “fits the Habs’ needs”.
Kent Hughes wants to add a big man to his lineup, and Jeannot fits that bill, after all:
Tampa Bay needs to free up some money to sign, among others, Steven Stamkos. Tony thinks the Habs might be interested in Tanner Jeannot, because he’s EXACTLY what the team needs. Agree or disagree?🫤 #Habs #Canadiens #LNH #Hockey #TannerJeannot #NHL pic.twitter.com/Z3UmQxtEx0
– BPM Sports (@BPMSportsRadio) May 28, 2024
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The idea is relatively interesting because Jeannot is a player who distributes a lot of checks.
He hits, he’s good at forechecking, he creates space for his teammates… And he’s already had a 24-goal season in the NHL (2021-2022).
He could be a good addition to the 3rd or 4th line, but I don’t see Kent Hughes acquiring him for big money.
But then again, the Lightning don’t have much to give away because they don’t have many draft picks or quality prospects.
Jeannot’s value has dropped drastically in the last year and a half because he hasn’t produced up to expectations since his arrival in Tampa, and I find it hard to believe that the Habs would want to get their hands on a player who’s struggling on the ice.
In fact, it doesn’t fit Kent Hughes’ mentality.
In gusto
– Can’t wait to see it.
Highest paid player per remaining team:
$12.5m – Connor McDavid
$11.6m – Artemi Panarin
$10m – Bobrovsky & Barkov
$9.95m – Tyler SeguinAre we going to see a $10m+ cup winner this year? pic.twitter.com/r9zFgalu1s
– Big Head Hockey (@BigHeadHcky) May 28, 2024
– What do you think?
Just had a good chat. Made my opinion stronger the Habs at 5 must shoot for big upside with a sure floor.
They’ve got the good floor type already like Helenius with Suzuki. Lindstrom’s back makes his floor dicey.
Need big upside.
Demidov, Sennecke, Iginla fit the need.
– Brian Wilde (@BWildeMTL) May 28, 2024
– Indeed.
“Roope Hintz brings so much to our lineup” – Wyatt Johnstonhttps://t.co/LQapqGH8km
– RDS (@RDSca) May 28, 2024
– Good read.
If Alex Anthopoulos wants to repeat the magic of 2021, this is a good place to start. https://t.co/sETPEVOU9d
– Passion MLB (@passion_mlb) May 28, 2024
– Oops!
Big absences for the Bengals😬https://t.co/5i4g024gIy
– RDS (@RDSca) May 28, 2024