Earlier this off-season, the Boston Bruins signed forward Tanner Jeannot to a five-year contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $3.4 million. With the Bruins looking to become a harder team to play against, they were willing to pay extra to bring in a well-known tough guy like Jeannot. 

During this past season with the Los Angeles Kings, Jeannot posted seven goals, six assists, 13 points, 89 penalty minutes, 211 hits, and an even plus/minus rating. Overall, it was a quiet year offensively for Jeannot, but he certainly made an impact when it came to his physicality and gritty style of play with the Kings. 

While Jeannot had a down year offensively with the Kings, his toughness is what made him a hot commodity on the free-agent market this summer. This is what ultimately helped raise his asking price and why the Bruins ended up paying more than most expected to successfully sign him. Teams around the league will forever be interested in big, hard-nosed players like Jeannot, but in the end, he ended up picking the Bruins as his new club.

Bruins: Reason For Shocking Tanner Jeannot Contract RevealedThe

During a recent appearance on the NHL Network, Jeannot opened up about why he chose to sign with the Bruins in free agency. 

"Obviously, when I found out the Bruins were a team that was interested in acquiring me, it definitely piqued my interest right away," Jeannot said. "Obviously, growing up watching the teams they had, they kind of embodied the style that I like to try to bring each and every night. I just thought that my style of game and the player I am could really go into an organization like that and have some success and try to help the team win games... So I was super excited to join this organization."

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Jeannot then shared that the possibility of having a more significant role with the Bruins also played a role in him wanting to join the Black and Gold. 

"Yeah, I think that was a big part of the decision-making process for me," Jeannot said when asked about having the chance to have more opportunities with the Bruins. "Obviously, I want to win. I want to do all that stuff, but I want to have a big part in it, and I want to be able to help the team as much as I know that I am capable of doing. So, I just felt like my style and just the player that I am can fit in really well in Boston and have a good role on the team there, and just do everything I can to win games. So I'm really excited for the opportunity. I'm just going to bring it all and try to do my very best for such a great organization, so I'm excited." 

Jeannot Could Become Nice Piece For Bruins 

Based on his comments, it is clear that Jeannot is incredibly excited to become a Bruin. It is understandable, as he now has a golden opportunity in front of him to become a solid part of Boston's roster as they look to take that next step and get back to being a playoff team again. 

When looking at the way Jeannot plays the game, he certainly has the potential to be a nice fit for the Bruins. He should give them some much-needed toughness as they look to become a more difficult club for opponents to go up against. Every team needs to have a player who can stand up for his teammates, and the Bruins are getting just that with this Jeannot signing. 

However, with Jeannot having a $3.4 million cap hit for the next five years, the Bruins will also be hoping that he can regain some of his previous offensive touch and emerge as a key forward on their roster. Since setting career highs with 24 goals, 17 assists, and 41 points in 81 games as a rookie during the 2021-22 season with the Nashville Predators, he has had trouble replicating that kind of offense. In each of the last three seasons, he has recorded fewer than eight goals and 15 points, so he will undoubtedly be looking to change that after landing this big contract from the Bruins. 

When looking at the Bruins' current roster, the possibility of Jeannot having a more significant role in Boston is there, as he discussed with the NHL Network. Barring any sudden additions, Jeannot will likely get the opportunity to play on the Bruins' third line. This could benefit the 6-foot-4 winger, as an increase in playing time could be exactly what helps him get his offense back up a bit. While expecting him to score 24 goals again may be a stretch, it would be great for the Bruins if he could at least hit the 15-goal and 30-point marks again. That kind of secondary offensive production mixed with his toughness would make him a very solid addition to the Bruins' roster.

Nevertheless, it is going to be very interesting to see how well Jeannot fits into the Bruins' roster from here. Clearly, he is amped about being a Bruin, and time will tell if that positively impacts his play on the ice. 

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