On July 1st, the Winnipeg Jets signed veteran forward Tanner Pearson to a one-year deal worth $1 million.

At first glance, it may have seemed like an unusual move, but the 32-year-old winger is expected to slot into Winnipeg’s bottom six and bring a dependable, two-way presence.

Pearson tallied 27 points (12 goals, 15 assists) in 78 games last season with the Vegas Golden Knights and added one assist in eight playoff appearances. Best known for his six-season stint with the Los Angeles Kings—where he won a Stanley Cup in 2014—Pearson also spent five seasons with the Vancouver Canucks, including a 45-point campaign in 2019–20.

With former Jet Brandon Tanev signing with the Utah Mammoth in free agency, a key bottom-six role was left vacant. While Pearson doesn’t bring the same speed Tanev was known for, he still offers a reliable two-way game and a scoring touch. He’s a smart player with strong hockey sense and Stanley Cup-winning experience to back it up.

Pearson was drafted 30th overall by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

His best statistical season came in 2019–20 with the Vancouver Canucks, where he recorded 21 goals and 24 assists for 45 points in just 69 games. That same postseason, he chipped in 4 goals and 4 assists in 17 playoff games, helping the Canucks push to Game 7 of the second round before falling to the Golden Knights.

Pearson is currently projected to play on the fourth line alongside veteran centerman Jonathan Toews and newly signed winger Cole Koepke—though that picture could shift once Jets training camp gets underway in September.

It may not be a headline-grabbing signing, but Pearson adds value. He’s a dependable veteran who strengthens Winnipeg’s bottom six and helps round out a forward group aiming to roll four lines consistently across an 82-game season.