New physical Bruins forward explains decision to sign with Boston

The Bruins weren’t the only team after Tanner Jeannot in free agency, but the physical forward still decided to sign with Boston.

SportsNet’s Elliotte Friedman reported earlier this month that competition was “fierce” and roughly 10 teams were interested in the 28-year-old.

So, why did the Bruins win the sweepstakes?

“Growing up, watching the teams that they had, they kind of embody the style that I like to try to bring each and every night,” Jeannot said NHL Network’s “NHL Tonight.” “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.”

The Bruins signed Jeannot to a five-year, $17 million deal on the first day of free agency. While some questioned whether the term was too long for a bottom-six forward who had consecutive seven-goal seasons, adding more physicality up front should take some of that pressure off defenseman Nikita Zadorov, who led the Bruins with 145 penalty minutes last season.

During the 2021-22 season, Jeannot scored 24 goals and added 17 assists for the Nashville Predators. He also had 318 hits and 130 penalty minutes. Since then, he hasn’t been able to replicate that kind of success, but Bruins general manager Don Sweeney explained why he was confident giving the 28-year-old a five-year deal.

“We want the infusion right now and then playing forward, I think it’s hard to find. I really do. I think the younger skilled players that we plan to incorporate moving forward are going to need a little breathing room. I think Tanner is going to bring a lot of that,” Sweeney said. “I think the room itself, his leadership skills, how he prepares to play the game, I think that all just boils over into what we need to continue to improve upon. And also support.

“Deep down we think he’ll bring a whole lot more energy to our group, that we need. The physicality is there. We run through a tough division,” he later added. “I just think everybody gets a little taller (with Jeannot in the lineup). I think if we fast forward what we’ve tried to do from a draft perspective, an eye towards that as well and introducing those young players — that we hopefully are infusing skill — I do believe that the complement Tanner brings will help in that regard.”