Tanner Jeannot Set to Hit Free Agency, Brad Treliving Urged to Sign Gritty Forward

There's going to be changes in Toronto this summer as Brad Treliving tries to make some big moves to go from being a team of failure to one that can put up a fight any given night (possibly, literally).

They are going to be shooting for bigger names like Brad Marchand and while things are still really hot and cold when it comes to rumors (one day he's interested, the next he's saying he isn't leaving) the Maple Leafs should adjust their mindset just in case.

That means getting some much smaller names and while it isn't the splash that fans were hoping for, they can still be effective.

One name who could be a huge asset to the team is Tanner Jeannot, and with reports that he is going to not be renewed and will be a free agent come July 1, Toronto needs to find a way to bring him in.

If Treliving wanted to still give his team a dose of toughness, grit and a Ryan Reaves-esque player, then Jeannot fits the bill.

Not afraid to fight, not afraid to get in the dirtier areas, and actually a potential offensive presence means that he actually hits all the notes and does so much more than Reaves.

Jeannot is also only 28 years old, a decade younger than Reaves and would cost about the same.

In 67 games this season, Jeannot scored 13 points (7G, 6A) which would actually be more than Reaves had combined in his two seasons in Toronto. In 294 games he has 93 points (49G, 44A), 403 PIM, 1,083 hits and a minus-9 rating with Nashville, Tampa Bay, and Los Angeles.

Most assuredly a fourth-line player, the Maple Leafs could bring him back to play alongside names like Pontus Holmberg, Max Pacioretty and Steven Lorentz (granted if they all re-sign).

If Toronto doesn't end up keeping them and run with a younger contingent in. the four-hole; Jeannot could give them the veteran leadership they need on the ice, while giving them the space and aggression needed to give them a chance to shine.

Plus, he only made $2.665-million and won't cost nearly as much this summer. Toronto might be able to bring him aboard for a year or two at $2-million and have themselves a stark improvement over Ryan Reaves; who is probably at the end of his career.

Depending on how Toronto wants to go about this offseason, if they want to add some serious change to their DNA, they could start with Tanner Jeannot; a cheap option that could be the first domino to fall in a wild summer.