FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Tanner Jeannot knows that throwing punches and taking them is not easy. The Boston Bruins left wing has fought five times this season, none of them while wearing pads and a chest protector.
From his perspective, Jeremy Swayman did just fine when he threw down with the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Andrei Vasilevskiy on Sunday at Raymond James Stadium, given the circumstances.
“They have so much gear on,” Jeannot said. “You can’t grab on. You just swing and see what you can hit.”
Jeannot and Mark Kastelic (six fights) are the Bruins’ tough guys. They fight in their own ways. Kastelic considers Jeannot, a 6-foot-2, 221-pounder, more of a technical expert. Kastelic (6-foot-4, 234 pounds), meanwhile, throws with abandon. The Detroit Red Wings’ Moritz Seider learned that the hard way during a one-sided beatdown on Nov. 29, 2025. Emotion is part of Kastelic’s bare-knuckled makeup, just like it was when Swayman tossed away his glove and blocker.
“He did good,” said Kastelic with a smile. “First one. It’s impressive. It was fun to watch and be a part of.”
“It was really cool for them to do that,” Jeannot added. “I think he can just stick to playing goalie, though.”
Jeannot cited the importance of starting each fight with a well-placed, firm grab around his opponent’s throwing shoulder. He could see that because of the equipment, neither Swayman nor Vasilevskiy was in any position to get any traction with a hold.
Swayman, who is right-handed, tried to grab Vasilevskiy with his left hand. He missed. The weight of his gear, in all likelihood, made it hard for Swayman to keep his balance and grab Vasilevskiy.
GOALIE FIGHT AT THE #STADIUMSERIES
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“I can’t imagine it’s easy,” Kastelic said of fighting with such restrictions. “I haven’t put on goalie gear in a long time. I don’t know what it feels like. But I’m sure it adds to the difficulty of trying to get a grab or get your range.”
Another problem for Swayman was his scouting report. He did not know Vasilevskiy was a lefty. So when Swayman missed with his grab and Vasilevskiy got a hold of his opponent’s collar with his right hand, everything lined up for the Tampa Bay goalie to start swinging.
There are not many tough guys left in the league. By now, all the fighters left standing have good intel on their opponents, either from video or previous encounters. In earlier days, such awareness wasn’t always available.
“Sometimes if a guy you don’t know is a lefty and catches you quick with a couple ones, then that’s how you find out,” Jeannot said. “Then you adjust from there.”
Perhaps the only occasion that catches today’s heavyweights by surprise is when they say yes to a youngster’s request or take on a non-fighter. There may not be time, for example, to go on YouTube to study an AHL call-up’s tendencies.
“For the most part, you have an idea about pretty much everybody — at least the guys that are more known for it,” Kastelic said. “But there’s some guys who don’t fight too much. So you don’t know.”
Swayman said his first fight might be his last. But he is quick to flash his temper when attackers trespass into his crease. He is not afraid to retaliate with a slash, cross-check or blocker punch. Brandon Hagel can speak to that.
Swayman may have no choice, then, but to throw down again. His more experienced teammates did not offer specific tips.
“He’s probably got to go to Jeannot for advice,” Kastelic said. “I’m not the guy to give advice. It’s just not the same. I can give him advice. But it might go out the window.”
“Swing,” Jeannot said, “and hope it hits.”
