The Toronto Maple Leafs could add a former division rival forward, Tanner Jeannot, if the team listens to NHL analyst Frankie Corrado.
In a conversation with Jay Onrait from June 22, Corrado discussed how the Toronto Maple Leafs could re-allocate the cap space left over from Mitch Marner’s expected departure this offseason.
Corrado was adamant about the fact that the Leafs would be unable to replace Marner with a single player. Instead, Corrado advocated for replacing Marner with various players by spreading out the team’s cap hit.
He stated:
“You’re not replacing a one-hundred-point player with a one-hundred-point player. You’re replacing a one-hundred-point player with multiple players, hoping that you get a different outcome in the bigger games.”
Corrado went on to name names, dropping his thoughts on who could fill the void for the Maple Leafs:
“Brad Marchand showed that he can have a better influence on those big outcomes. Then, you look at certain guys that might be workers, guys that just work like dogs. Andrew Mangiapane, someone who obviously has some familiarity with the GM Brad Treliving.”
Corrado’s thought focused on the cost to sign players like Marchand and Mangiapane, reasoning that they would take up close to Marner’s cap hit from this season.
Then, Corrado expanded on this idea, suggesting that if the team could spare some additional cap space, they could sign Jeannot.
He added:
“Can you find one-and-a-half for a guy like Tanner Jeannot?”
Corrado concluded:
“That’s the way you have to change the DNA with guys that just work like dogs.”
Check out Corrado’s comments from the 1:20 mark onwards:
Looking at what Tanner Jeannot brings to Toronto Maple Leafs
Tanner Jeannot isn’t a 100-point player by any means. His career high was 41 points in 2021-22 while playing with the Nashville Predators. He scored 24 goals that season before getting traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning the following season.
Since then, Jeannot has averaged seven goals in the past two seasons, playing predominantly in a bottom-six role.
But that’s what Corrado was referring to. Jeannot is a hardworking, gritty forward who doesn’t give up pucks and take shifts off. He digs for pucks, keeps opponents at bay, and doesn’t make silly mistakes.
He played with the Los Angeles Kings this past season, totaling 13 points in 67 games. Does that mean that Jeannot will suddenly light up the scoreboard upon arrival in Toronto?
Not likely. But he could be a solid, cost-effective option to play on the Maple Leafs’ third line with Scott Laughton. Plus, Jeannot can play on either wing, making him a very useful option for Craig Berube.
Tanner Jeannot an Affordable Choice for Toronto
Jeannot is coming off a two-year deal, carrying a $2.665 million AAV. It’s unlikely he gets another deal like that, but something closer to $1.5 to $2 million could make him an interesting option for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The 28-year-old might consider a one-year, “show me” deal in hopes of proving he’s worth a multi-year pact, either in Toronto or elsewhere.
Jeannot has the potential to turn out much the way Steven Lorentz did for the Maple Leafs. At this point, the Leafs may be finally heading off the beaten path and thinking more about spreading out their cap space.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Analyst Urges Toronto Maple Leafs to Sign Former Division Rival Forward appeared first on Heavy Sports.