Watching the Florida Panthers, I noticed something about the Stanley Cup champions. They left their opponents battered and bruised. They would physically punish teams like the Edmonton Oilers for the entirety of 60 minutes, leaving them unable to respond.
I thought to myself, "Wouldn't it be great if the Vegas Golden Knights had somebody like that on the lower lines, delivering hits? That person could assist Keegan Kolesar in punishing people the way Florida regularly does."
Then I realized there was a player who could fill that specific need. His name? Tanner Jeannot, formerly of the Los Angeles Kings.
The good part about signing him was you're plucking said lower-line depth from a division rival. The Kings aren't going away any time soon and have a plethora of solid young forward talent on the way.
But that's not the main thing. Jeannot hits people. A lot.
We're talking about 211 hits last season. He also had 318 hits in 2021-22 with the Nashville Predators, his rookie season. Already, you can feel the hard-hitting juices flowing on the Golden Knights if he joins.
However, there's more to the former King than simply bodying people. In fact, he brings much more for the team than one would anticipate.
What makes Tanner Jeannot the perfect low-cost get for the Vegas Golden Knights?
Obviously, having a lower line player to hit people is a must. You can't rely on Kolesar to pull the weight of punishing your opponents, you know. But there's more to Jeannot than that.
During his 2021-22 season, he scored 24 goals with the Predators and boasted a shooting percentage of 19.4%. That was good enough to place seventh in the Calder Trophy voting and earn recognition from his peers. Yes, he has a scoring touch.
But wait! There's more!
Jeannot is also a solid penalty-killing threat, carrying an ability to score shorthanded. It's akin to how Reilly Smith and William Karlsson fly down the ice for such opportunities.
If McCrimmon works his magic and has all three on board, you're essentially turning your penalty kill unit into a mini-power play. That would be something not many teams could handle, revolutionizing the Golden Knights' special teams group.
Jeannot would be an instant fit in the Golden Knights system
Being 6'2" and weighing 220 pounds has its perks. You're allowed to deliver punishing hits as Jeannot does with his size. You can also blend into a defensive system like the one Bruce Cassidy has, making life easier for your goaltender.
It's no secret that the Golden Knights love size. They want players who get their sticks out so they can poach an incoming puck. That's part of why the former Kings star would fit in seamlessly. He can use said size to his advantage in more ways than one.
But Jeannot is the type of player to stick up for his teammates. Remember the second round when the Edmonton Oilers were constantly antagonizing the Golden Knights? Evander Kane couldn't stop getting in everyone's faces, acting as the proverbial pest.
That's where the 28-year-old comes into play. He's the guy who evens the odds and will stick up for his teammates. You'd best sleep with one eye open, Kane. Your days are numbered with Jeannot in town. This man took on THEE Matt Rempe himself, you know.
All this equals a free agent that McCrimmon can't pass up if the opportunity presents itself. Let's face it: the Golden Knights need an edge, especially in the playoffs. They need someone to get the team to push back. Why not go with someone from inside the division to make that happen?