Main Photo: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports
The Nashville Predators announced that they have traded forward Tanner Jeannot to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Cal Foote and five draft picks.
Winger Tanner Jeannot Traded by the Nashville Predators
Jeannot return is Cal Foote, First in 2025. Second in 2024. Third fourth and fifth in 2023.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) February 27, 2023
The Nashville Predators have decided to move winger Tanner Jeannot. The Predators signed Jeannot as an unrestricted free agent to a three-year contract in 2018. After bouncing up and down between the AHL and ECHL, Jeannot made his NHL debut for the Predators in 2021. Nicknamed the “Oxbow Ox” due to his physical stature and hometown of Oxbow, Saskatchewan, Jeannot is a physical force on the ice. He plays a hard-nosed game and isn’t afraid to mix it up. In 56 games he leads the Predators this season in penalty minutes after accumulating 130 last season. After scoring 24 goals and 17 assists in 81 games last season, Jeannot’s production has dropped off some this season. However, he possessed a 43% expected goals percentage in 56 games.
What It Means For the Future
Tanner Jeannot is the type of player built for playoff hockey. He is six foot two inches and 208 pounds and isn’t afraid to throw his weight around. He will stand up for his teammates and provide energy and physicality to the team. Even though he has not scored at the same rate as last year, he has shown that he can contribute offensively. In addition, Jeannot is 25 years old so likely is just coming into his prime years with room for possible improvement. While he could be a rental, Jeannot will be a restricted free agent after this season so could be an affordable depth option past this season as well.
The Predator’s decision to trade Jeannot is one that they may not have anticipated at the beginning of the season. This move came after the somewhat unexpected trade of Nino Niederreiter to the Winnipeg Jets. While the Predators seemed to like what Jeannot brought, after falling out of the playoff picture and having no extension in place for Jeannot, the Predators decided to recoup assets for the future and move forward.
