Trade rumours swirling regarding Lightning forward Tanner Jeannot

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Cooper Godin
June 3, 2024 (2:31 PM)

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The Tampa Bay Lightning are facing a cap crunch this summer and with the need to re-sign captain Steven Stamkos, the team will need to look a moving money out in the coming weeks.

According to Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times, one name that has come up in trade rumours and is drawing interest from teams around the National Hockey League is forward Tanner Jeannot.

Encina added that there are no reports suggesting that Lightning will trade Tanner Jeannot, but he hasn't lived up to expectations, especially on the goal scoring front, since the team acquired him in February 2023 from the Nashville Predators. The Lightning paid a hefty price to acquire Jeannot, sending five draft picks (2025 1st, 2024 2nd, 2023 3rd, 4th, 5th) and defenceman Cal Foote.

"Now, Jeannot's name is being bandied about as one that is drawing trade interest as the Lightning look to create salary-cap space to re-sign captain Steven Stamkos and complete a roster that currently has just 18 players, including 10 forwards, under NHL contracts.

There are no concrete reports saying the Lightning plan to trade Jeannot. But Jeannot, who turned 27 Wednesday, hasn't provided the complementary scoring they had hoped for when general manager Julien BriseBois acquired him a season after he scored 24 goals as a rookie. Jeannot has scored just seven even-strength goals in 75 games with Tampa Bay." Encina said.

Encina went on to say that the Calgary Flames have been mentioned as a potential landing spot for Tanner Jeannot as they are a team who has the cap space and needs a physical player on their roster.

"Right now, teams watch the later rounds of the playoffs and see how physicality can be a factor in winning postseason games. If there's a team with sizable cap space available that needs a physical enforcer type � Calgary has been mentioned as a possible landing spot, as it has plenty of space and isn't far from Jeannot's native Saskatchewan � he could be a fit." Encina said.

Jeannot does bring grit and his physical play could be intriguing to teams that are looking to compete for the Stanley Cup, but he needs to find a way to get on the score sheet next season. After putting up 24 goals in 81 games during his rookie year in 2021-22, he's only recorded 13 goals in his last 131 regular season games. If he's able to chip in 15-20 goals, he could be a very valuable piece.

But right now, no matter who the Lightning trade him to, they certainly aren't going to get anywhere close to the return they'd hope for. Moving out cap space is the most important thing for Lighting General Manager Julien BriseBois, with Jeannot's cap hit coming in at $2.665 million for the 2024-25 season. Jeannot also has a modified no-trade clause that kicks in on July 1st, so if the Lightning are to move him, it'll likely come before Canada Day.

Source - Tampa Bay Times: What to make of the trade talk involving Lightning's Tanner Jeannot