It seems there is still some speculation around whether the Nashville Predators will buy or sell at the deadline, despite general manager David Poile being rather clear with his comments a few days ago. One thing that is perhaps adding some confusion is that the Predators don’t have many pending UFAs to dangle at the deadline.
Selling, then, would consist of moving players with team control – though many of those also come with hefty cap hits. One that doesn’t (at least not yet) is Tanner Jeannot, on the second season of a two-year, $1.6M contract and due for arbitration-eligible restricted free agency this summer.
According to Larry Brooks of the New York Post, the Predators are trying to sign Jeannot to an extension. If they can’t, Poile is expected to re-engage with teams that had previously expressed interest.
In Jeannot’s case, arbitration may be what Poile and the Predators want to avoid. The 25-year-old forward had a breakout season last year, scoring 24 goals and 41 points, while racking up 130 penalty minutes and more than 300 hits. He finished seventh in Calder Trophy voting, and was considered a unicorn player in the league – tough as nails, with a scoring touch that could get him into the top six.
Things haven’t gone quite so well this year. Jeannot’s shooting percentage has dropped from a sky-high 19.4 to 6.0, and his production has fallen off a cliff. With just five goals and 14 points so far, he isn’t the same difference-maker, even if his physical style is still very effective in a bottom-six role.
The arbitration process might not see it that way though, with counting stats from 2021-22 being presented in favor of a substantial raise. The Predators then would have to bet on his production returning, which may not be a game they can play given how many other expensive contracts they have in place.
On the market, there would certainly be plenty of contenders who want to add Jeannot’s hard-nosed game for the playoffs or even some bubble teams that have enough cap space to handle an arbitration award and want to add to their group. The Predators wouldn’t have trouble finding suitors if he ended up on the market. The New York Rangers, according to Brooks, are one of those interested teams.
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