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The Real Reason the Boston Bruins Recklessly Signed Tanner Jeannot Leaks Publicly

Originally posted on House of Hockey | By Tom Banks | Last updated Jul 7, 2025 12:49 AM ET

Tanner Jeannot was inked to a surprising deal by the Boston Bruins, and now we know why Don Sweeney handed out such a big contract to the veteran.

NHL free agency was chaotic once again in 2025, and while there weren't many stars available, teams had the chance to lock in some key veterans that could help them in a big way moving forward.

One player that was given a deal that nobody saw coming was veteran forward Tanner Jeannot, who has been critical for success for several teams in recent years, but without much production, the deal five-year, $17 million deal with the Boston Bruins came as a shock.

While fans have expressed their frustration with GM Don Sweeney over the move, we know exactly why they opted for this deal, as Elliotte Friedman has the latest on this situation.

'The one thing that I think happened with Boston was I heard that they were like 10 teams after this guy. Like, I heard the competition for Jeannot was fierce... I think there were a lot of teams after him... I think there were a ton of teams after him. There's not a lot of guys like him.'

According to Friedman, upwards of 10 teams were after Jeannot, and with the Bruins believing that they needed what he brings to the team, they were quick to get a deal done with the 28-year old in what is seen as a major overpay.

Ultimately, the Bruins believe they can get back into contention this season, and while their lines look much better than they did in 2024/25, if the Jeannot signing doesn't pay off to help them contribute once again, it will definitely look like an even worse one than it does now.

This article first appeared on House of Hockey and was syndicated with permission.

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