Don Sweeney was quick to retort when asked about the decision-making process that culminated in multi-year contract doled out to forward Tanner Jeannot on the first day of NHL free agency.
A player with Jeannot’s bruising approach on the ice can bring value to an NHL club, especially in a bottom-six role.
But in a free-agent market rife with pugnacious forwards willing to drop the gloves and hammer puck carriers at a bargain-bin price, the Bruins opted to make a significant commitment to the 28-year-old winger.
A five-year deal — worth $3.4 million per season.
It was a contract that raised eyebrows across the hockey world — with AFP Analytics projecting the winger to receive a two-year contract at a $1.