The Tampa Bay Lightning have lost forward Yanni Gourde to the Seattle Kraken. As was the case with Vegas in 2017, Seattle was allowed to choose one unprotected player from every team. With a stacked team, Gourde was left exposed because the top four defensemen were considered elite. In order to keep all of them, GM Julien Brisebois had to expose a few forwards that played a huge role in the Bolts back-to-back Stanley Cup championships.
Yanni Gourde
Undrafted straight out of junior hockey, Gourde worked his butt off to get where he is today. He scored the game-winning goal in the Lightning’s 1-0 win over the New York Islanders to push the team back to the Stanley Cup Final.
Gourde signed a six-year contract extension worth $31.8 million in November of 2018. With the selection, Seattle will take on his cap hit of $5.16 million over the next four years.
Gourde will likely slot in as a top-six forward for the Kraken. His versatility is something every team covets. It gave Tampa Bay the flexibility to slot him in as their third-line center, a place where he thrived. Playing alongside other gritty, hard-nosed players in Blake Coleman and Barclay Goodrow, the 29-year-old was key to the Bolts ability to win the 2020 and 2021 Stanley Cups.
Nicknamed the Energizer Bunny by teammates, Gourde was all over the ice battling for puck possession over the past two postseasons. He contributed seven goals and 14 points in 25 games played during the 2020 playoffs. This past postseason saw him score six goals and seven points in 23 games. Altogether, he put up 21 points in two deep playoff runs.
How Does This Selection Affect the Lightning?
The Lightning lose a great guy, fan-favorite and player who is willing to play anywhere. He’s made his living taking on opponents, some of who might be twice his size. He also was a key cog on the penalty kill, with an uncanny ability to steal the puck and quickly make opponents pay.
In saying that, the Bolts have a lot of depth up front. Ross Colton will likely get an extended look in Gourde’s spot, as he played well in 2021. There’s also Mathieu Joseph, Alex Barre-Boulet and Mitchell Stephens looking to make a bigger impact. The loss of Gourde will give them, along with other prospects, a chance to prove they’re ready for a bigger role.
Winners & Losers of This Selection
Winners:
- Seattle Kraken
- Ross Colton
- Alex Barre-Boulet
- Mitchell Stephens
- Mathieu Joseph
Losers:
- Tampa Bay Lightning
- Yanni Gourde
- Lightning Fans