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Lightning pay massive price for Preds' Jeannot |
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Engaged in an arms race in the Eastern Conference, the reigning three-time Eastern Conference champion Tampa Bay Lightning took their big swing Sunday night with a move for Nashville Predators winger Tanner Jeannot.
And did they pay an absolutely massive price to make it happen.
In their successful pursuit of Jeannot, the Lightning sent defenseman Cal Foote, a 2025 first-round pick, their 2024 second-round pick, as well as the Bolts' third, fourth and fifth-round picks in 2023 to Nashville. The first-round pick sent to Nashville will be top-10 protected, according to Lightning general manager and vice president Julien BriseBois.
Jeannot, a 25-year-old left-shooting forward, has tallied five goals and totaled 14 points through 56 games played this season.
It's been a definite down year for Jeannot, all things considered, as the 6-foot-2 wing put up 24 goals and 41 points in 81 games for the Predators last year, and finished seventh in the Calder Trophy voting in the process.
The Bolts' hope is that Jeannot's scoring touch returns with his move to Tampa Bay, and that the Lightning have found another middle-six option designed to excel in playoff hockey.
The trade also essentially clears out the Lightning's 2023 draft pick cupboard, as the team is not slated to have a pick until the sixth round of the 2023 NHL Draft as a result of this trade, their 2021 trade which saw them staple a second-round pick to a trade to dump off Tyler Johnson on the Blackhawks, and the 2022 trade for Brandon Hagel.
The Lightning, currently in third in the Atlantic Division, are by all means locked into a first-round showdown with the Maple Leafs, and may have to get through the league-best Bruins in round two in an effort to get to the Stanley Cup Final for the fourth season in a row.
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