Red Wings Could Use A Tanner Jeannot

Rookie sensations Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider have proven to be revelations for the Detroit Red Wings.

Right off that bat, that needs to be made perfectly clear. The ensuing words are by no means intended to be a knock against either player’s value or contribution to the Detroit cause. They’ve both been vital cogs in moving the Red Wings’ rebuild ahead of schedule.

Lucas Raymond mic'd up.

You're welcome.@enterprise | #LGRW pic.twitter.com/UsqVY4MxFn

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) January 20, 2022

That being said, there’s still glaring weaknesses within the team’s structure. Being hard to play against rates highly on that list.

The Wings don’t staple opposing defenders to the glass on the foreceheck. The Detroit net-front presence at both ends of the rink could use an upgrade. Seldom do they make the neutral zone a no-fly zone.

Red Wings Need A Jeannot

This team requires a few more players who make the game less fun for opponents. In short, they need to find some Tanner Jeannots.

Height advantage isn’t everything 👀

Tanner Jeannot goes after Logan Stanley in a good scrap 🥊 pic.twitter.com/jNdkMzruJC

— The Cam & Strick Podcast (@CamandStrick) January 21, 2022

Wings fans got an up-close look at the damage and mayhem that Nasvhille rookie forward Jeannot can create during a pair of losses to the Predators. In Detroit, Jeannot dealt Seider a punishing hit on the forecheck and handled Dan Renouf in a bout of fisticuffs. On the weekend in Nashville, when Raymond attempted to drive to the Nashville goalmouth with the puck, Jeannot pancaked him into the ice.

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If your team has any of these three rookies, you smile. Raymond leads all first-year NHL players with 33 points. Seider is tops among rookies in assists (23) and time on ice (23:30). Jeannot is out front among first-year NHLers in goals (13), penalty minutes (78) and hits (140). He also skates on Nashville’s first penalty killing unit.

Seider 20/21 SHL: 41GP, 28PTS, 20:41TOI/GP
Seider 21/22 NHL: 41GP, 26PTS, 22:24TOI/GP

That's what you call a smooth transition. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/q3cZrC1xqp

— IcehockeyGifs (@IcehockeyG) January 22, 2022

Jeannot isn’t likely to win the Calder Trophy. It says here that Seider, playing the NHL’s toughest position with aplomb all over the ice, should get the nod. However, the bottom line is that teams win with players of Jeannot’s ilk.

Among the items on the to-do list of Red WIngs GM Steve Yzerman is to find some players who play like Jeannot.