The Boston Bruins are under fire after choosing to invest $17 million in Tanner Jeannot rather than secure long-time leader Brad Marchand to a contract extension. NHL analyst Dom Luszczyszyn criticized the move, pointing out Jeannot’s declining numbers and questioning the front office’s priorities during free agency.
NHL Analyst Questions $17M Deal Over Brad Marchand Extension
The decision has sparked sharp reactions across the league. Luszczyszyn shared advanced stat projections showing that Jeannot has a mere 5% chance of providing positive on-ice value.
The Bruins could’ve extended Brad Marchand to make him a Bruin for life and instead they’re spending their money like this on July 1. pic.twitter.com/BOlR4yPPNd
— dom 📈 (@domluszczyszyn) July 1, 2025
With a net rating of -7.3% and an offensive impact that’s steadily trended downward, many wonder why the Bruins opted to spend so heavily on a depth player instead of ensuring Marchand remained in black and gold for the rest of his career.
The numbers paint a grim picture for Jeannot’s future production, making this contract look like a massive overpay for a player whose best days appear behind him.
The team had just missed the playoffs and was expected to make bold, smart additions. Instead, fans and analysts alike are left scratching their heads over a deal that seems to ignore both analytics and common sense. Boston needed impact players who could help them return to contention, not expensive depth pieces with questionable upside.
Bruins Criticized for Questionable Cap Allocation in Free Agency
The Bruins’ choice is especially jarring when compared to recent signings. The team recently gave Morgan Geekie a six-year deal at $5.5 million AAV, seen by many as a reasonable investment given his upside and age profile.
But in contrast, this new $17 million deal, reportedly signed with a player who had just 13 points in 67 games last season, has been labeled one of the offseason’s most puzzling moves.
Jeannot’s production has declined significantly since his breakout 2021-22 season, when he scored 24 goals for Nashville. His physicality and penalty minutes have remained high, but his offensive contributions have dried up completely.
Several insiders have noted that the Bruins had other priorities in mind after missing out on Matias Maccelli and acquiring higher-profile names like Viktor Arvidsson. The front office clearly wanted to add size and toughness to their lineup, but paying $3.4 million per year for five years to a player who managed just 13 points seems excessive even by those standards.
Still, this deal, coming right after they passed on Marchand‘s extension talks, has been hard to justify for many observers. The timing makes it even worse, as Boston had the chance to lock up their franchise icon before he hit the market.
New York Post columnist Larry Brooks summed it up sharply.
“We’re going to be charitable here, kind of holding out hope that perhaps the Bruins player personnel department was given Tanner Jeannot clips from 2021-22 that were mislabeled as current before signing the free agent winger to a five-year, $17 million contract ($3.5M AAV) that otherwise defies explanation,” Brooks said.
Marchand’s Legacy Continues Elsewhere
Marchand spent his entire NHL career with Boston and was the face of Bruins culture for over a decade before being traded midseason to the Florida Panthers, where he won the Stanley Cup for the second time in his career. Known for his offensive spark and gritty leadership, he was expected to sign a legacy deal to stay with the team at the time.
Instead, he enters a new era with the Panthers after signing a six-year extension to stay in South Florida. The 37-year-old winger proved he still has plenty left in the tank, contributing 85 points in 82 games last season and playing a key role in Florida’s championship run.
His departure represents the end of an era for Boston, as one of their most iconic players continues his career elsewhere.
With younger talent being brought in and physicality being prioritized, some fans fear the Bruins organization is drifting away from its roots. The Jeannot signing suggests management values toughness over skill, a philosophy that hasn’t worked well for teams in the modern NHL.
Boston’s cap allocation this summer raises serious questions about their direction and whether they understand what it takes to compete in today’s league.
Brad was hurt and recuperating when the Bruins traded him. He is a fantastic player. All he needs is his experience, and he’ll do fine.
Stick to football.
The Bruins didn’t miss out on Arvidsson. They acquired him in a trade. Hard to take the article seriously when you can’t even get a basic fact correct. Florida is crazy for signing a 37 year old to a 6 year contract. Marchand played will in the playoffs but did nothing for the Bruins during the last 3 months of the season.