Struggling Tanner Jeannot’s role with Nashville Predators
The Oxbow Ox hasn’t broken through in the goal-scoring category this season. Tanner Jeannot has three goals and three assists through 33 games with 41 penalty minutes on his resume.
He’s one of three Predators skaters with six points. Forward Mark Jankowski and defenseman Dante Fabbro are the other two.
Head Coach John Hynes had this to say about Jeannot’s recent offensive drought that has last the entirety of the season to this point:
“He’s going through right now one of these spells where he gets good looks, some of the tips and rebounds and chances he got last year went in the net and this year it isn’t,” Hynes said. “He’s done a really nice job on the penalty kill. He’s found his way to be an impact player but the production isn’t where he or he would like it.” -Head Coach John Hynes to 102.5 The Game
There’s no question the six-foot-two 208-pound forward is a wrecking ball this season in the NHL. He ranks third overall in total hits (128) and has been doing his best Jordin Tootoo impression while wearing a Predators sweater.
Jeannot’s Role with Nashville Predators
Before New Year’s Eve in 2021, Jeannot put up 18 points in 32 games breaking out in his first full season with Nashville. Now Jeannot has posted 30 points since Jan. 1 of 2022 in 53 games played.
Last season Jeannot finished seventh in Calder votes for rookie of the year.
For most of the 2021-22 season, he was in the conversation for being in the top three among the NHL’s best rookies.
He’s looked more like a strict checking forward for head coach John Hynes playing on the third line 19 times this season while serving a role on the first penalty-kill unit. Playing third-line minutes hasn’t warranted many scoring chances this season in Nashville.
According to Money Puck, the former Moose Jaw Warrior has played 96 minutes this season with Colton Sissons and Yakov Trenin who each have eight points in 33 games. Jeannot is currently on a 25-game streak without scoring a goal (1,543 minutes).
Albeit he hasn’t scored since Oct. 27 he has been finding some chemistry on a line with Nino Niederreiter and Cody Glass. This line has played four games together since Dec. 19 when the Predators beat the Oilers 4-3.
“I would give a lot of props to Cody Glass,” Hynes said. “Glass’ line basically played against them [McDavid & Draisaitl] the whole night. I thought he was excellent, I thought Nino was great, and I thought Tanner Jeannot was really good. They were able to attack and make those guys defend.”
Niederreiter has put up three points in his last four games on the second line while Glass has four assists. Jeannot hasn’t scored any points on this line since it was formed.
Hynes praised Glass’ consistency while getting elevated ice time in recent games:
“It’s what we’ve hoped from him. The thing that’s been nice to see with him is the consistency level. He’s a good skater, he’s got good size and great hockey sense. He’s showing a competitiveness level to handle some top minutes against some top players has been encouraging.” -John Hynes on Glass’ recent play
Although he has seven shots on net with 17 hits in his four games with Niederreiter and Glass. According to Natural Stat Trick, this line combination has created 17 scoring chances in the last four contests.
Jeannot and the Nashville Predators have gone out west to close out the 2022 calendar year with games against the Anaheim Ducks and Vegas Golden Knights.
In his last four games against the Ducks, Jeannot has three assists and no points against the Golden Knights in two games played versus the NHL’s second-youngest franchise.
Nashville is in search of its first regulation win since Dec. 21 and Jeannot is poised to bury a puck for the first time since playing the Blues at the end of October.