Leafs Could Add Sandpaper to Their Lineup With Buy-Low Option Set to Hit the Open Market

The Toronto Maple Leafs have always been on the hunt for players that bring a sandpaper type of element onto the ice as evidenced by some of their recent moves, like the deadline acquisitions of Brandon Carlo and Scott Laughton

While their upcoming free agent search will predominantly be around higher skilled forwards like Sam Bennett and Brad Marchand, they will also be perusing the market for buy-low options once the dust settles.

One name in particular that should interest the Maple Leafs is feisty forward Tanner Jeannot. The 28-year-old forward is reportedly not returning to the Los Angeles Kings and will be hitting the open market, according to Russell Morgan from Hockey Royalty.

Jeannot burst onto the scene for the Nashville Predators during his rookie season in 2021-22 when he notched 24 goals and 41 points to go along with 130 PIMs and 318 hits.

The following year, he was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning at the trade deadline for a haul of picks, but never regained that same level of production.

With the Kings last year, Jeannot scored 7 goals and 13 points in 67 games with 89 PIMs and 211 hits. He was primarily featured in a bottom-6 role with 11:01 ATOI and but consistently provided the club with physicality and a jolt of energy.

His production has certainly taken a hit since 2021-22 as Jeannot has scored less goals and produced less points in the 3 seasons combined since, but he was presented with a far lesser role on deeper and more talented clubs.

However, he still accumulated 271 PIMs and 712 hits in those 198 games, giving him a decent amount of value as an every day bottom-6 energy guy.

At 6'2 and 220 pounds, Jeannot would give the Maple Leafs a real threatening piece in the lineup and one that has the ability to score if given the opportunity.

He shouldn't cost an arm and a leg in free agency either, allowing Brad Treliving to spread out the rest of his funds to address different holes on the roster.