NHL contract grades: Tanner Jeannot's deal with Bruins and the lessons not learned

New York Times

a day ago

Tanner Jeannot has agreed to a five-year contract with a $3.4 million average annual value contract with the Boston Bruins.
When it comes to analyzing the moves we see on the first day of NHL free agency — in any given season — some themes tend to repeat themselves. One of the big ones: general managers tend to repeat the mistakes of their peers. Not everyone learns.
Jeannot's contract is the latest, best example. We've already seen one team go all in on him as a long-term solution on the bottom six, and we've already seen it blow up in their faces. At the 2023 trade deadline, the Tampa Bay Lightning sent a five-pack of draft picks, including a first-rounder, to Nashville.
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Back then, the Lightning's bet was that Jeannot, a high-end physical presence fresh off a 24-goal rookie season, would help refresh their third and fourth lines. On some level, that made sense; Jeannot was young and cost-controlled. The cost in terms of assets was, of course, ridiculous, but Jeannot's value to a win-now, cash-strapped team had to be at least part of the consideration.
Jeannot, of course, played 75 games for the Lightning and, without a shooting percentage of 19.4 to float his game, brought very little to the mix other than hits — too many of which came while he was chasing the puck. He didn't do much for the Kings in his lone season there, either. Lesson learned, you'd think.
Now, though, he's going to be a $3.4 million player for five seasons. As a short-term bet, that AAV would've been unwise. As a long-term one, hoo boy. He has a bit of defensive value and, yes, loves to punish his opponents — but that's only enough to stop this from being an 'F.'
The bright side for Boston, if there is one, is that they're on track for another rough season. Rostering Jeannot isn't going to be the difference in one way or another. The Lightning needed quality minutes from Jeannot to go on another Stanley Cup run — and in Boston, the stakes aren't going to be nearly as high.
Contract grade: D-
Fit grade: D+