This was surprising given that Jeannot is a key player for the NHL playoffs, and that Tampa Bay had paid a significant amount to acquire him - defenseman Cal Foote (a first-round pick) as well as a protected top-10 first-round pick in 2025, a second-round pick in 2024, and 3rd, 4th, and 5th round picks in 2023.
However, there was a major turnaround when Jeannot practiced with his teammates and is now expected to play in the first game of the series against Toronto, which took everyone by surprise.
Indeed, this situation has likely sparked a lot of reactions from fans of both teams. It's hard to say whether Tampa Bay was bluffing by exaggerating Jeannot's injury or if they were simply cautious in announcing that he was unlikely to play, but was actually recovering quickly. This could be a strategy to destabilize the Maple Leafs, but it's hard to say.
As for whether Toronto will finally win a playoff round, remains to be seen. The playoffs are always unpredictable, and anything can happen. Toronto has a good team this year, but we know the difficulties they have had in the past.
