The Nashville Predators have signed Tanner Jeannot to a two-year contract, avoiding arbitration with the restricted free agent. The deal will carry an average annual value of $800K, paying Jeannot $750K in 2021-22 and $850K in 2022-23.
Talk about an underdog story. Jeannot has gone from undrafted free agent, to ECHL hopeful to NHL winger in quick succession, moving from the Moose Jaw Warriors to the Predators playoff lineup in three years. The 24-year-old forward experienced an incredible breakout this season, scoring 10 goals and 21 points in 13 AHL games, five goals and seven points in 15 NHL games, and even registering an assist in five playoff appearances.
Jeannot will be back in Nashville for the next two years, giving the Predators a cheap option to move in and out of the lineup when necessary. It’s not just offense that the 6’2″ winger brought though, as Jeannot racked up 53 hits in his 15 NHL games and even scored a short-handed goal. That bang-and-crash style is beloved by coaches, managers and fans alike, leading to the Predators actually protecting the young forward in the expansion draft.
While he may not be walking into a top-six role quite yet, betting against him certainly isn’t a good idea at this point. Jeannot now becomes a valuable, inexpensive option for head coach John Hynes to use when necessary.
@Gavin – Yep, it’s me again! Throwing away all that good will built up over the last several hours… (ECHL hopefully) -> (ECHL hopeful) or (AHL/ECHL roller coaster rider!)
Preds are the only NHL team whose only marketable line is their 4th line. The top 9 are a mish mosh of underacheivers and over slotted forwards. In other words, a David Poile team.
@Gbear – I had to look several times at the projected D-pairs on PuckPedia. I kept thinking there must be a bunch of typos. As currently constructed, it doesn’t seem to inspire a lot of confidence for competing for what used to be one of the five nearly-guaranteed playoff spots in the division. Just trying to finish ahead of ARI doesn’t seem to be a good motivator, to me. Hopefully, Jeannot can pan out for them.
@Mac – And to think that their D is their strength, lol!
How Poile keeps his job is a testament to the advantage of being in a small market. Imagine slopping a team together like this in a big media market?! The sports writers would be shredding him piece by piece.
@Gbear – Does the GTA, or MTL come to mind? Even EDM or VAN, for that matter. Ooof, that would be brutal!
@Mac – Indeed it would!
So Poile let a decent middle 6 forward like Jarnkrok go for nothing in the expansion draft so he could protect a 4th liner like Jeannot who he values so much that he just paid him a smidge above the league minimum salary. If there’s logic to that, I clearly am missing it.
@Gavin – Thanks!