Tanner Pearson is a former Cup winner who can enter a leadership role
Leadership is a recurring theme here, and Tanner Pearson is another player whose veteran presence would work well with a team that needs experience on the lower lines. Like Jake Allen, Pearson has playoff experience and a Stanley Cup on his resume, so those two factors alone would benefit younger teams looking to break into the NHL Playoffs and overachieve.
He’s also a physical player who, when healthy, isn’t scared to finish checks or to get in front of pucks. Pearson is also someone teams looking for skaters comfortable with seeing a lot of ice time in the defensive zone could utilize. This season, Pearson’s offensive zone starts sit at 42.3 percent at 5-on-5. And since his Corsi and Fenwick For percentages rest well under 50, it’s safe to say defense is his game.
The winger’s simple game will attract contenders with the same approach, or even offensive-minded teams looking to add balance to their lineup. Pearson won’t offer much in the way of scoring, but his value will shine if he goes to a team that will allow him to play his game and simply put them in a better position to snag a playoff spot.