Tanner Jeannot suspended 3 games by NHL Department of Player Safety + Roster Updates

A quick one here this evening, Insiders.

The NHL has announced that forward Tanner Jeannot was suspended for three games by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety, as a result of a hit on Vancouver forward Brock Boeser in yesterday’s 4-2 defeat against Vancouver.

The full video from the Department of Player Safety is shown below –

Los Angeles’ Tanner Jeannot has been suspended for three games for an illegal check to the head against Vancouver’s Brock Boeser. https://t.co/ahC7rFox9F

— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) November 8, 2024

A few factors to note here. The decision to suspend Jeannot has to be based solely on the hit, with a resulting injury and past history not able to be factored into the decision of whether or not to actually suspend Jeannot. Once the league made a decision to issue a suspension, which was the case here, those two factors can be taken into account in terms of how long the suspension actually is. So, once the league made the decision to issue a suspension, the fact that Boeser did not return to the game due to injury is allowed to be factored into the decision. Jeannot had one fine during his career, though per the video, it did not factor into the suspension here.

With Jeannot out for the next three games, it leaves the Kings shorthanded, with only 11 forwards healthy on the active roster. Alex Turcotte has an upper-body injury and is out day-to-day. Although he has returned to the ice, skating on his own in a non-contact jersey earlier today, he is not an option for tomorrow’s game versus Columbus. Still, on that front, a positive update on Turcotte, already being back on the ice three days after his initial injury.

Turcotte was on the ice this morning, skating with Arthur Kaliyev, both in red jerseys.

Expecting an optional practice today for the @LAKings at 11 AM. https://t.co/0krujhq7oX

— Zach Dooley (@DooleyLAK) November 8, 2024

Thus, the Kings will likely need to recall a forward and they seem to have settled on forward Samuel Helenius, who has been held out of tonight’s game with the Ontario Reign, in anticipation of a potential recall.

Helenius was perhaps a surprise during training camp and left a lasting impression on Jim Hiller and the NHL staff. Helenius still has development left to come, but he’s a big player who is growing into his frame, he’s willing to play heavy and embraces a 4C role. With Jeannot out, and Trevor Lewis capable of going to the wing, Helenius could bring a little more “like for like” for the Kings, especially coming off a night when the Kings were perhaps beaten at their own game.

Here’s what Jim Hiller had to say about Helenius during camp –

“Sammy knows his role, and a lot of times, players have a hard time finding or accepting what their role is going to be,” Hiller said. “Everybody would love to score goals but when you get to pro hockey and it’s difficult, there are different roles you can assume. Sammy finishes his checks, he wins faceoffs, he penalty kills and he does it every shift.”

Helenius could potentially join Andre Lee as a part of a duo that worked very well in the second half of last season at the AHL level. Those two players, with Taylor Ward on the right side, formed an effective third line for the Reign during the team’s two playoff series wins last spring, as Ontario advanced to the third round of the playoffs. Helenius was a strong piece in that puzzle, bringing a playoff-style of hockey while killing penalties and embracing a shutdown role, chipping in offensive on top of that.

Additionally, positive news today on the status of defenseman Mikey Anderson.

Seems like a positive update on @LAKings defenseman Mikey Anderson.

Jim Hiller shared that he spoke with Mikey this morning, said he's "feeling good" and while the Kings are being patient, they're also "optimistic" about his status, potentially even for tomorrow.

— Zach Dooley (@DooleyLAK) November 8, 2024

As Hiller notes, Anderson seems to be doing well and while there will always be caution exercised, things did not look good on the ice, so to hear that Anderson is around the rink and doing well is a very positive sign. No confirmation either way for his status tomorrow, but hope to get a better sense in the morning. Should Anderson be out, the Kings are probably the deepest at LHD, so they would have either Caleb Jones or Andreas Englund set to check in.

More to come in the AM!