TAMPA, Fla. – True, at first glance it seemed like the Lightning gave up a lot. It is also true that the Lightning, with three consecutive Stanley Cup final appearances and having hoisted the chalice at the conclusion of the first two, are all about winning now.
That is why the addition of Tanner Jeannot from Nashville should resonate nicely among the team’s fans.
As far as what is going the other direction, defenseman Cal Foote was not able to crack the lineup on a regular basis and while five draft picks – a third, fourth, and fifth-rounder in 2023, a second in 2024, and a top-10 protected first in 2025 – might seem like quite a haul, there is also this to consider: the 25-year-old Jeannot is a restricted free agent this summer with the Lightning controlling his rights next year.
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In other words, while the imperative is to ramp up for the postseason, Jeannot, with a cap hit of $800,000 this season, could be in a Lightning uniform for a while.
“When we look at what that’s worth to us, based on the odds of those picks turning into good NHL players down the road, I’d rather have a good player right now for this season and next and help this group win right now,” said general manager Julien BriseBois. “Because I know what the odds are of those picks turning into players.”
After scoring 24 goals to go with 17 assists in 81 games last season with Nashville, his first full season in the NHL, Jeannot is only 5-9-14 in 56 games this season. It is what he brings to the table in other areas, however, that is appealing. He led the league with 14 fights last season and is fourth in the league with 213 hits this season.
“He’s a big, fast, physical, top-nine forward,” said Brisebois. “He’s hard to play against. He plays with pace. He finishes checks often and hard. He can defend. He manages the puck well. He brings his teammates into the fight. By all accounts, he’s an all-around great teammate. He’s the type of player that helps you win when it gets hard.”
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Brisebois said Jeannot, who was a junior teammate of Brayden Point’s with Moose Jaw in the Western Hockey League, will be in the lineup Tuesday night when the Lightning host the Panthers.
While it remains to be seen how Jeannot will do with the Lightning, it is difficult to argue with the trade deadline success the team has had on BriseBois’ watch. After all, there were the acquisitions of Blake Coleman and Barclay Goodrow in 2020 and Nick Paul and Brandon Hagel last season. Not bad.
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